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. sværge, 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.
Ye shall swear by my name falsely.
Lev. xix. 12.
I swear by all the Roman gods.
Shak.
2. (Law) To give evidence on oath; as,
to swear to the truth of a statement; he swore against
the prisoner.
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.
[I] swore little; diced not above seven times a
week.
Shak.
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]
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.
Swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not
deal falsely with me.
Gen. xxi. 23.
He swore consent to your
succession.
Shak.
2. (Law) To put to an oath; to cause to
take an oath; to administer an oath to; -- ofetn followed by in
or into; as, to swear witnesses; to swear a jury;
to swear in an officer; he was sworn into
office.
3. To declare or charge upon oath; as, he
swore treason against his friend. Johnson.
4. To appeal to by an oath.
Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
Shak.
To swear the peace against one, to make oath
that one is under the actual fear of death or bodily harm from the
person, in which case the person must find sureties that he will keep
the peace.
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. sværge, 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.
Ye shall swear by my name falsely.
Lev. xix. 12.
I swear by all the Roman gods.
Shak.
2. (Law) To give evidence on oath; as,
to swear to the truth of a statement; he swore against
the prisoner.
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.
[I] swore little; diced not above seven times a
week.
Shak.
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]
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.
Swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not
deal falsely with me.
Gen. xxi. 23.
He swore consent to your
succession.
Shak.
2. (Law) To put to an oath; to cause to
take an oath; to administer an oath to; -- ofetn followed by in
or into; as, to swear witnesses; to swear a jury;
to swear in an officer; he was sworn into
office.
3. To declare or charge upon oath; as, he
swore treason against his friend. Johnson.
4. To appeal to by an oath.
Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
Shak.
To swear the peace against one, to make oath
that one is under the actual fear of death or bodily harm from the
person, in which case the person must find sureties that he will keep
the peace.
