swear

[ swair ]

/ swɛər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR swear ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swear·ing.

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.

verb (used with object), swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swear·ing.

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.

Verb Phrases

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

before 900; Middle English sweren, Old English swerian; cognate with German schwören, Old Norse sverja; akin to Gothic swaran to swear; see answer

SYNONYMS FOR swear

1 declare, affirm, avow.

3 depose, testify.

4 imprecate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR swear ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for swear

4. See curse.

OTHER WORDS FROM swear

swear·er, noun swear·ing·ly, adverb re·swear, verb, re·swore, re·sworn, re·swear·ing. un·der·swear·er, noun

Words nearby swear

swazi territory, swaziland, swazzle, swbs, swbw, swear, swear at, swear by, swear in, swear jar, swear like a trooper

British Dictionary definitions for swear by

swear

/ (swɛə) /

verb swears, swearing, swore or sworn

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

noun

a period of swearing

Derived forms of swear

swearer, noun

Word Origin for swear

Old English swerian; related to Old Norse sverja, Gothic swaran, Old Frisian swera, German schwören

Idioms and Phrases with swear by

swear by

Have great reliance on or confidence in, as in She swears by her personal physician. [Early 1800s]

Also, swear to. Have reliable knowledge of, be sure of, as in I think she was going to the library but I can't swear to it. [Mid-1700s]

Take an oath by, as in I swear by all the saints in heaven. [Early 1200s]

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swear

verb (used without object), swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swear·ing.

verb (used with object), swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swear·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of swear

SYNONYMS FOR swear

synonym study for swear

OTHER WORDS FROM swear

Words nearby swear

British Dictionary definitions for swear by

verb swears, swearing, swore or sworn

noun

Derived forms of swear

Word Origin for swear

Idioms and Phrases with swear by

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swear

verb (used without object), swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swear·ing.

verb (used with object), swore or (Archaic) sware; sworn; swear·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of swear

SYNONYMS FOR swear

synonym study for swear

OTHER WORDS FROM swear

Words nearby swear

Words related to swear by

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for swear by

verb swears, swearing, swore or sworn

noun

Derived forms of swear

Word Origin for swear

Idioms and Phrases with swear by

British Dictionary definitions for swear by