swearing

Variant of swear

swear definition

swear (swer)

intransitive verb swore, sworn, swearing swear′·ing

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

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

transitive verb

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

Related Forms:

swear Idioms

swear by

  1. to name (something held sacred) in taking an oath
  2. to have great faith or confidence in

swear for

to give assurance for; guarantee

swear in

to administer an oath to (a person taking office, a witness, etc.)

swear off

to promise to give up, leave off, or renounce

swear out

☆
to obtain (a warrant for someone's arrest) by making a charge under oath

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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