swear

[ swair ]
/ swɛər /

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

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

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

British Dictionary definitions for swear off (1 of 2)

swear off

verb

(intr, preposition) to promise to abstain from something to swear off drink

British Dictionary definitions for swear off (2 of 2)

swear
/ (swɛə) /

verb swears, swearing, swore or sworn

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 off

swear off

Pledge to renounce or give up, as in I've sworn off cigarettes. This expression was first used for abjuring liquor in the first half of the 1800s but has since been broadened to just about anything.