SWEAR • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Swear

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/swɛr/ Listen

verb

Swear v. t. (past swore, formerly sware; past part. sworn; pres. part. swearing)

1.

To utter or affirm with a solemn appeal to God for the truth of the declaration; to make (a promise, threat, or resolve) under oath. "Swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me." "He swore consent to your succession."

2.

(Law) To put to an oath; to cause to take an oath; to administer an oath to; ofetn followed by in or into; as, to swear witnesses; to swear a jury; to swear in an officer; he was sworn into office.

3.

To declare or charge upon oath; as, he swore treason against his friend.

4.

To appeal to by an oath. "Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain."

To swear the peace against one, to make oath that one is under the actual fear of death or bodily harm from the person, in which case the person must find sureties that he will keep the peace.

Swear v. i. (past swore, formerly sware; past part. sworn; pres. part. swearing)

1.

To affirm or utter a solemn declaration, with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed; to make a promise, threat, or resolve on oath; also, to affirm solemnly by some sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the Bible, the Koran, etc. "Ye shall swear by my name falsely." "I swear by all the Roman gods."

2.

(Law) To give evidence on oath; as, to swear to the truth of a statement; he swore against the prisoner.

3.

To make an appeal to God in an irreverant manner; to use the name of God or sacred things profanely; to call upon God in imprecation; to curse. "(I) swore little; diced not above seven times a week."

To swear by, to place great confidence in a person or thing; to trust implicitly as an authority. "I simply meant to ask if you are one of those who swear by Lord Verulam."

To swear off, to make a solemn vow, or a serious resolution, to abstain from something; as, to swear off smoking. (Slang)

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Etymology of 'Swear'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Swear" Quotes from Famous Books

... Bailiff has no easy task to swear the Plaintiff's representative. First, she takes the book and kisses it before the formula prescribed has been repeated. Then she waits till the sentence is finished and lifts the book with the left hand instead of the right. The Registrar's clerk has to go ...

— Hodge and His Masters • Richard Jefferies

... I can locate a fair-sized block of that stock at—well, at a little bit underneath the market price. I believe—yes, sir, I believe I can get it for you at—at as low as eighteen dollars a share. I won't swear I can, of course, but I MAY be able to. Only you'll have to promise not to tell anybody how you ...

— Galusha the Magnificent • Joseph C. Lincoln

... municipal elections of 1920 they were victorious in most of the towns. In Belgrade they secured 3600 votes, as compared with 3200 for the Radicals, 2800 for the Democrats—both of whom were not only badly organized but very slack—and 605 for the Republicans. However, the Communists refused to swear the requisite oath, and in consequence were not permitted to take office, the Radicals and Democrats forming a union to carry on. It was agreed to have a new election and the other parties, being now awakened, ...

— The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 2 • Henry Baerlein

... grew, In Homer's or in Omar's or in mine, Though buried under centuries of fine Dead dust of roses, shut from sun and dew Forever, and forever lost from view, But must again in fragrance rich as wine The grey aisles of the air incarnadine When the old summers surge into a new. Thus when I swear, "I love with all my heart," 'Tis with the heart of Lilith that I swear, 'Tis with the love of Lesbia and Lucrece; And thus as well my love must lose some part Of what it is, had Helen been less fair, Or perished young, or stayed at ...

— Second April • Edna St. Vincent Millay

... He did at last succeed in bringing back his own friend to the tent, having, however, a sad task in doing so. But Mick Maggott would not be moved. He had his wits about him enough to swear that he cared for nothing. He was going to have a spree. Nobody had ever known him to be talked out of it when he had once set his mind upon it. He had set his mind upon it now, and he meant to have his whack. This was what he said of himself: 'It ain't no good, John. It ...

— John Caldigate • Anthony Trollope

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