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swear |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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 answer, Dan. svare, Dan. & Sw svar an answer, Goth. swaran to swear, and perhaps to E. swarm. [root]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] From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: swear v 1: utter obscenities [syn: {curse}, {cuss}, {blaspheme}, {imprecate}] 2: to declare or affirm as true: "Before God I swear I am innocent." [syn: {affirm}, {assert}, {avow}, {aver}, {swan}] 3: promise solemnly; take an oath 4: make a deposition; declare under oath [syn: {depose}, {depone}] 5: have confidence or faith in "We can trust in God"; "Rely on your friends"; "bank on your good education" [syn: {trust}, {rely}, {bank}] [ant: {distrust}, {distrust}]
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