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swear

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To swear is to make a promise.

(verb)

An example of to swear is to take an oath on the Bible in a courtroom.
An example of to swear is to take a vow not to tell a secret.

To swear is to speak using bad or rude language.

(verb)

An example of to swear is exclaim “shit” when something bad happens.

See swear in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb swore, sworn, swearing

to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or to something held sacred for confirmation: to swear on one's honor
to make a solemn promise; vow
to use profane or obscene language; curse
Law to give evidence under oath

Origin: ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base *swer-, to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile

transitive verb

to declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred
to pledge or vow on oath
to assert or promise with great conviction or emphasis
to take (an oath) by swearing
to administer a legal oath to

Related Forms:

swearer noun

See swear in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb swore swore (swôr, swōr), sworn sworn (swôrn, swōrn), swear·ing, swears

verb, intransitive

To make a solemn declaration, invoking a deity or a sacred person or thing, in confirmation of and witness to the honesty or truth of such a declaration.
To make a solemn promise; vow.
To use profane oaths; curse.
Law To give evidence or testimony under oath.

verb, transitive

To declare or affirm solemnly by invoking a deity or a sacred person or thing.
To promise or pledge with a solemn oath; vow: He swore his oath of allegiance to the queen. See Synonyms at promise.
To utter or bind oneself to (an oath).
Law To administer a legal oath to: All the witnesses have been sworn.
To say or affirm earnestly and with great conviction.

noun

A swearword.

Phrasal Verbs: swear at To use abusive, violent, or blasphemous language against; curse. swear by To have great reliance on or confidence in: He swears by his personal physician. To have reliable knowledge of; be sure of: I think she left early, but I couldn't swear by it. To take an oath by: He swore by all the angels and saints of heaven. swear in To administer a legal or official oath to: swear in a mayor. swear off Informal To pledge to renounce or give up: She has sworn off cigarettes. swear out Law To obtain (a warrant for arrest) by making a charge under oath.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sweren

Origin: , from Old English swerian; see swer- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: