sweer

American  

[sweer] / swɪər /

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. slothful; indolent.

2. unwilling; reluctant.

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sweer British  

/ swiːr /

verb

1. a variant spelling of sweir 1 sweir 2

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Etymology

Origin of sweer

before 900; Middle English swer ( e ), Old English swær ( e ) heavy, sluggish; cognate with German schwer

Example Sentences

‘I’m sweer to waken him—I doubt he was working late—oh, that weary writing—no, I maunna waken him.’

From Margaret Ogilvy by Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew)

Perhaps I shall like, my lad; but I don’t ask you to sweer now.

From The Parson O' Dumford by Fenn, George Manville

I'm sweer to say it," he announced to Tommy and David, "but it has to be said.

From Tommy and Grizel by Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew)

I say wi' you; but Joe's juist been tellin' me that he met a leddy this mornin' on the public street that he could sweer died twenty-fower years bygane.

From Betty Grier by Waugh, Joseph Laing

"Let me up; I hae said a sweer!"

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 01 — Fiction by Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir