GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Sware (?), imp. of Swear. [Obs. or Poetic]
   
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   Cophetua sware a royal oath. Tennyson.
   
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2.       
   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. schwören, Icel. sverja, Sw. svärja, Dan. svaerge, Icel. & Sw. svara to answer, Dan. svare, Dan. & Sw. svar an answer, Goth. swaran to swear, and perhaps to E. swarm. √177.  Cf. Answer.]
   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.
   
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   Ye shall swear by my name falsely. Lev. xix. 12.
   
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   I swear by all the Roman gods. Shak.
   
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   2. (Law) To give evidence on oath; as, “to swear to the truth of a statement; he swore against the prisoner”.
   
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   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.
   
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   [I] swore little; diced not above seven times a week. Shak.
   
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   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.” Miss Edgeworth. -- 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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