swear
//ˈswɛə(ɹ)//
informalForms
- present (v1)
- swear
- past (v2)
- swore
- past participle (v3)
- sworn
- present participle
- swearing
- 3rd person singular
- swears
- Comparative
- swearer
- Superlative
- swearest
- Plural
- swears
Definitions
1.To take an oath, to promise intensely, solemnly, and/or with legally binding effect.
- The knight swore not to return to the palace until he had found the treasure.
2.To take an oath that an assertion is true.
- The witness swore that the person she had seen running out of the bank was a foot shorter than the accused.
3.To promise intensely that something is true; to strongly assert.
- My little brother is such a pest, I swear.
- I swear I don't know what you're talking about.
4.To administer an oath to (a person).
- Let the witness be sworn.
1.Heavy.
2.Top-heavy; too high.
3.Dull; lazy; slow.
- Rise up gueedewife, an dinna be sweer, / B'soothan, b'soothan, / An deal yir chirity t' the peer, / An awa b'mony a toon.
1.A swear word.
- You might think it funny to hear this Kanaka girl come out with a big swear. No such thing. There was no swearing in her, no, nor anger; she was beyond anger, and meant the word simple and serious.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2482
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English sweren, swerien, from Old English swerian (“to swear, take an oath of office”), from Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną (“to speak, swear”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to swear”).