swear
- to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible.
- to bind oneself by oath.
- to give evidence or make a statement on oath.
- to use profane oaths or language: Don't swear in front of the children.
- to declare, affirm, attest, etc., by swearing by a deity, some sacred object, etc.
- to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness.
- to promise or undertake on oath or in a solemn manner; vow.
- to testify or state on oath: He swore it on the witness stand.
- to take (an oath), as in order to give solemnity or force to a declaration, promise, etc.
- to bind by an oath: to swear someone to secrecy.
- swear by,
- to name (a sacred being or thing) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing.
- Informal.to have great confidence in; rely on: He swears by his dentist.
- to have certain knowledge of: I thought I saw him leaving, but I couldn't swear by it.
- swear in, to admit to office or service by administering an oath: A new president will be sworn in today.
- swear off, to promise or resolve to give up something, especially intoxicating beverages.
- swear out, to secure (a warrant for arrest) by making an accusation under oath.
Origin of swear
Synonyms for swear
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
Related Words for swear
assert, depose, vow, testify, affirm, cuss, curse, covenant, attest, avow, state, vouch, maintain, promise, plight, trust, warrant, imprecate, blaspheme, flameExamples from the Web for swear
Contemporary Examples of swear
Nine new Republican senators will swear their oaths of office.
Or should you swear it off in the name of better cholesterol?
Opposing fans often taunt him, screaming, “Swear in a minute, he's going to swear in a minute.”
I swear we all went into this because we like people and most importantly the idea of healing you is very rewarding.
It just shocked me, I swear I would have a chauffeur if I could ever afford one.
The Price of Being a Patton: Wrestling With the Legacy of America’s Most Famous GeneralTim Teeman
May 26, 2014
Historical Examples of swear
He was then required to swear by all the gods, and by the dreaded Erinnys, that he had spoken truly.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
I've come to see you for two minutes; I swear I mean you no harm.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
He tried to swear Edith and me to secrecy, but we refused to be sworn.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
It don't do 'em any good, but just the same they all swear they're innocent.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Will you swear that the message that went with it had nothing to do with the Lenni-Lenape?'
The Trail BookMary Austin
swear
- to declare or affirm (a statement) as true, esp by invoking a deity, etc, as witness
- (foll by by)
- to invoke (a deity, etc) by name as a witness or guarantee to an oath
- to trust implicitly; have complete confidence (in)
- (intr often foll by at) to curse, blaspheme, or use swearwords
- (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to promise solemnly on oath; vow
- (tr) to assert or affirm with great emphasis or earnestness
- (intr) to give evidence or make any statement or solemn declaration on oath
- to take an oath in order to add force or solemnity to (a statement or declaration)
- swear blind informal to assert emphatically
- a period of swearing
Word Origin for swear
Word Origin and History for swear
Old English swerian "take an oath" (class VI strong verb; past tense swor, past participle sworen), from Proto-Germanic *swarjan-, (cf. Old Saxon swerian, Old Norse sverja, Danish sverge, Old Frisian swera, Middle Dutch swaren, Old High German swerien, German schwören, Gothic swaren "to swear"), from PIE root *swer- (1) "to speak, talk, say" (cf. Old Church Slavonic svara "quarrel"). Also related to the second element in answer. The secondary sense of "use bad language" (early 15c.) developed from the notion of "invoke sacred names." Swear-word is American English colloquial from 1883. Swear off "desist as with a vow" is from 1898.