Life Is Not Purgatory
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Merriam-Webster Definition
Main Entry: swear
Pronunciation: 'swar, 'swer
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): swore /'swOr, 'swor/; sworn /'swOrn, 'sworn/; swear·ing
Etymology: Middle English sweren, from Old English swerian; akin to Old High German swerien to swear and perhaps to Old Church Slavonic svaru quarrel
Date: before 12th century
transitive senses
1 : to utter or take solemnly (an oath)
2 a : to assert as true or promise under oath b : to assert or promise emphatically or earnestly
3 a : to put to an oath : administer an oath to b : to bind by an oath
4 obsolete : to invoke the name of (a sacred being) in an oath
5 : to bring into a specified state by swearing
intransitive senses
1 : to take an oath
2 : to use profane or obscene language : CURSE
- swear·er noun
- swear by : to place great confidence in
- swear for : to give assurance for : GUARANTEE
- swear off : to vow to abstain from : RENOUNCE
Main Entry: swear
Pronunciation: 'swar, 'swer
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): swore /'swOr, 'swor/; sworn /'swOrn, 'sworn/; swear·ing
Etymology: Middle English sweren, from Old English swerian; akin to Old High German swerien to swear and perhaps to Old Church Slavonic svaru quarrel
Date: before 12th century
transitive senses
1 : to utter or take solemnly (an oath)
2 a : to assert as true or promise under oath b : to assert or promise emphatically or earnestly
3 a : to put to an oath : administer an oath to b : to bind by an oath
4 obsolete : to invoke the name of (a sacred being) in an oath
5 : to bring into a specified state by swearing
intransitive senses
1 : to take an oath
2 : to use profane or obscene language : CURSE
- swear·er noun
- swear by : to place great confidence in
- swear for : to give assurance for : GUARANTEE
- swear off : to vow to abstain from : RENOUNCE
