swear

swear
verb
1 use bad language
ADVERB
loudly
quietly, silently, softly, under your breath
viciously, violently
VERB + SWEAR
hear sb

He heard her swear under her breath.

PREPOSITION
at

He swore loudly at her and left.

2 make a serious promise; promise to tell the truth
ADVERB
solemnly

He swore solemnly that he would never hit her again.

on oath, under oath
up and down (AmE)

He swears up and down that he trusts me.

VERB + SWEAR
be prepared to

I would be prepared to swear on oath that they didn't see me.

make sb

He made her swear on the Bible that she wouldn't leave him.

PREPOSITION
by

I swear by Almighty God to tell the truth.

on

Do you swear on your mother's life?

to

I swear to you, I don't know.

PHRASES
be sworn into office

Lincoln was sworn into office on March 4, 1861.

swear sb to secrecy, swear sb to silence

We were all sworn to secrecy about the plan.

Swear is used with these nouns as the object: ↑allegiance, ↑loyalty, ↑oath, ↑vengeance

Collocations dictionary. 2013.

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  • swear — [ swer ] (past tense swore [ swɔr ] ; past participle sworn [ swɔrn ] ) verb ** 1. ) intransitive to use words that are deliberately offensive, for example because you are angry with someone: That s the first time I ve ever heard him swear. swear …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • swear — S2 [sweə US swer] v past tense swore [swo: US swo:r] past participle sworn [swo:n US swo:rn] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(offensive language)¦ 2¦(promise)¦ 3¦(state the truth)¦ 4 somebody could have sworn (that) ... 5¦(public promise)¦ 6 swear somebody to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • swear — ► VERB (past swore; past part. sworn) 1) state or promise solemnly or on oath. 2) compel to observe a certain course of action: I am sworn to secrecy. 3) use offensive or obscene language, especially to express anger. ● swear blind Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • Swear — 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. schw[ o]ren, Icel. sverja, Sw. sv[ a]rja, Dan. sv[ae]rge, Icel. & Sw. svara to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swear — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swear — vb swore, sworn, swear·ing [Old English swerian] vt 1: to utter or take solemnly swear an oath 2 a: to assert as true or promise under oath a sworn affidavit …   Law dictionary

  • swear — [swer] vi. swore, sworn, swearing [ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base * swer , to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile] 1. to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or to something held sacred for confirmation… …   English World dictionary

  • Swear — may refer to: * Swearing: to utter an oath or Profanity * The Swear (band) * Swear , a single by Sheena Easton * Swear , a 1980s single by Tim Scott / Tim Scott McConnell * SWEAR or S***R, the London based footwear brand. Check their official… …   Wikipedia

  • swear to — To affirm or identify on oath • • • Main Entry: ↑swear * * * ˈswear to [transitive] usually in negatives [present tense I/you/we/they swear to he/she/it swears to …   Useful english dictionary

  • swear — [v1] declare under oath affirm, assert, attest, avow, covenant, cross one’s heart*, depend on, depose, give one’s word*, give witness, have confidence in, maintain, make an affidavit, pledge oneself, plight, promise, rely on, say so*, state,… …   New thesaurus

  • swear — O.E. swerian take an oath (class VI strong verb; past tense swor, pp. sworen), from P.Gmc. *swarjanan, from root *swar (Cf. O.S. swerian, O.N. sverja, Dan. sverge, O.Fris. swera, M.Du. swaren, O.H.G. swerien, Ger. schwören, Goth …   Etymology dictionary

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