[swear] vb swore ; sworn ; swear.ing [ME sweren, fr. OE swerian; akin to OHG swerien to swear and perh. to OCS svaru quarrel] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to utter or take solemnly (an oath)
2. a: to assert as true or promise under oath "a sworn affidavit" b: to assert or promise emphatically or earnestly "swore to uphold the Constitution" 3 a: to put to an oath: administer an oath to b: to bind by an oath "swore them to secrecy"
4. obs: to invoke the name of (a sacred being) in an oath
5: to bring into a specified state by swearing "swore his life away" ~ vi 1: to take an oath
2: to use profane or obscene language: curse -- swear.er n -- swear by : to place great confidence in -- swear for : to give assurance for: guarantee -- swear off : to vow to abstain from: renounce "swear off smoking"
[2]swear n (14c): oath, swearword