swear */*/

swear */*/
UK [sweə(r)] / US [swer] verb
Word forms "swear":
present tense I/you/we/they swear he/she/it swears present participle swearing past tense swore UK [swɔː(r)] / US [swɔr] past participle sworn UK [swɔː(r)n] / US [swɔrn]
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 at:

She was shouting and swearing at everyone.

swear profusely:

I hammered my thumb and then swore profusely.

2) [transitive] to make a sincere statement that you are telling the truth

I've never seen him before – I swear!

swear (that):

She swears that this is the man who attacked her.

3)
a) [transitive] to make a promise to do something
swear (that):

You swore that you would never see her again.

swear to do something:

He swore to stay out of politics when he retired.

swear vengeance against/on someone (= promise to punish them):

Marshall swore vengeance against his brother's killers.

b) [intransitive/transitive] to make a formal promise to be loyal or to tell the truth

Members have to swear an oath of secrecy.

swear (your) allegiance to someone (= promise to be loyal):

They have to swear allegiance to the Queen.

•

swear to God= swear on my life/the Bible etc spoken — used for emphasizing strongly that you are telling the truth

I swear to God I was never at that place.

swear someone to secrecy/silence — to make someone promise not to tell anyone else what you have told them

I can't tell you – I've been sworn to secrecy.

Phrasal verbs:

English dictionary. 2014.

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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 — S2 [sweə US swer] v past tense swore [swo: US swo:r] past participle sworn [swo:n US swo:rn] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(offensive language)¦ 2¦(promise)¦ 3¦(state the truth)¦ 4 somebody could have sworn (that) ... 5¦(public promise)¦ 6 swear somebody to… …   Dictionary of contemporary 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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