v.
(swears, swearing; past swore; past part. sworn)
- state or promise solemnly or on oath.
▸
(swear someone in)
admit someone to a position or office by directing them to take a formal oath.
▸compel to observe a certain course of action:
I am sworn to secrecy.
▸
(swear to)
give an assurance that something is the case.
▸
(swear off)
informal promise to abstain from.
▸
(swear by)
informal have or express great confidence in.
▸
(swear something out)
US Law obtain the issue of a warrant for arrest by making a charge on oath.
- use offensive language, especially to express anger.
Phrase
- swear blind
(or N. Amer. swear up and down)
informal affirm something emphatically.
Derivative
Etymology
OE swerian of Gmc origin; rel. to answer.