| 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Ye shall swear by my name falsely. Lev. xix. 12. [ 1913 Webster ] I swear by all the Roman gods. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Law) To give evidence on oath; as, to swear to the truth of a statement; he swore against the prisoner. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] [ I ] swore little; diced not above seven times a week. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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 ] [ 1913 Webster ]
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| 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. [ 1913 Webster ] He swore consent to your succession. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To declare or charge upon oath; as, he swore treason against his friend. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To appeal to by an oath. [ 1913 Webster ] Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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