swear

swear
swear
S2 [sweə US swer] v past tense swore [swo: US swo:r] past participle sworn [swo:n US swo:rn]
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1¦(offensive language)¦
2¦(promise)¦
3¦(state the truth)¦
4 somebody could have sworn (that) ...
5¦(public promise)¦
6 swear somebody to secrecy/silence
Phrasal verbs
　swear by something
　swear somebody<=>in
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[: Old English; Origin: swerian]
1.) ¦(OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE)¦
to use rude and offensive language
▪ Don't swear in front of the children.
swear at
▪ He turned round and swore at me.
2.) ¦(PROMISE)¦ [T]
to promise that you will do something
swear (that)
▪ Victor swore he would get his revenge.
swear to do sth
▪ Mona swore never to return home.
▪ Do you swear on your honour (=promise very strongly) that you will never tell anyone?
3.) ¦(STATE THE TRUTH)¦ [I and T] [i]informal
to say very strongly that what you are saying is true
▪ I never touched your purse, I swear!
swear (that)
▪ He says he was there all the time, but I swear I never saw him.
swear blind
BrE (=say very strongly)
▪ She swore blind that she had never seen him before.
▪ I never touched her, I swear to God .
▪ I think it was about ten o'clock when we left, but I couldn't swear to it (=I am not certain) .
4.) sb could have sworn (that) ...
used to say that someone was sure about something but now they think they were wrong
▪ I could have sworn I had my keys.
5.) ¦(PUBLIC PROMISE)¦ [I and T]
to make a public official promise, especially in a court of law
swear on
▪ Witnesses have to swear on the Bible.
▪ Remember that you have sworn an oath and so must tell the truth
▪ Presidents must swear allegiance to the US constitution.
6.) swear sb to secrecy/silence
to make someone promise not to tell anyone what you have told them
>swearing n [U]
▪ He was cautioned for swearing.
▪ lots of shouting and swearing
swear by [swear by sth] phr v
to have great confidence in how good or effective something is
▪ He swears by vitamin C pills.
swear in [swear sb<=>in] phr v
if someone with a new public job or position is sworn in, they make an official promise to do their duty well
▪ The new governor will be sworn in next week.
▪ The jury have not yet been sworn in.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
, , / (solemnly), , , , , , , / , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • swear — [ swer ] (past tense swore [ swɔr ] ; past participle sworn [ swɔrn ] ) verb ** 1. ) intransitive to use words that are deliberately offensive, for example because you are angry with someone: That s the first time I ve ever heard him swear. swear …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • swear — ► VERB (past swore; past part. sworn) 1) state or promise solemnly or on oath. 2) compel to observe a certain course of action: I am sworn to secrecy. 3) use offensive or obscene language, especially to express anger. ● swear blind Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • Swear — Swear, v. i. [imp. {Swore}, formerly {Sware}; p. p. {Sworn}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swearing}.] [OE. swerien, AS. swerian; akin to D. zweren, OS. swerian, OHG. swerien, G. schw[ o]ren, Icel. sverja, Sw. sv[ a]rja, Dan. sv[ae]rge, Icel. & Sw. svara to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swear — Swear, v. t. 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. [1913 Webster] Swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me. Gen. xxi. 23.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swear — vb swore, sworn, swear·ing [Old English swerian] vt 1: to utter or take solemnly swear an oath 2 a: to assert as true or promise under oath a sworn affidavit …   Law dictionary

  • swear — [swer] vi. swore, sworn, swearing [ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base * swer , to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile] 1. to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or to something held sacred for confirmation… …   English World dictionary

  • Swear — may refer to: * Swearing: to utter an oath or Profanity * The Swear (band) * Swear , a single by Sheena Easton * Swear , a 1980s single by Tim Scott / Tim Scott McConnell * SWEAR or S***R, the London based footwear brand. Check their official… …   Wikipedia

  • swear to — To affirm or identify on oath • • • Main Entry: ↑swear * * * ˈswear to [transitive] usually in negatives [present tense I/you/we/they swear to he/she/it swears to …   Useful english dictionary

  • swear — [v1] declare under oath affirm, assert, attest, avow, covenant, cross one’s heart*, depend on, depose, give one’s word*, give witness, have confidence in, maintain, make an affidavit, pledge oneself, plight, promise, rely on, say so*, state,… …   New thesaurus

  • swear — O.E. swerian take an oath (class VI strong verb; past tense swor, pp. sworen), from P.Gmc. *swarjanan, from root *swar (Cf. O.S. swerian, O.N. sverja, Dan. sverge, O.Fris. swera, M.Du. swaren, O.H.G. swerien, Ger. schwören, Goth …   Etymology dictionary

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