swore
Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Idioms, Wikipedia.
Related to swore: Machinations
swore
(swôr)v.
Past tense of swear.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
swore
(swɔː)vb
the past tense of swear
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
swear
(swɛər)v. swore, sworn, swear•ing. v.i.
1. to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible.
2. to bind oneself by oath; vow.
3. to give evidence or make a statement on oath.
4. to use profane oaths or language.
v.t. 5. to declare, affirm, etc., by swearing by a deity or a sacred object.
6. to testify or state on oath.
7. to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness.
8. to promise on oath; vow.
9. to take (an oath).
10. to bind by an oath: swore them to secrecy.
11. swear by,
a. to name (a sacred being or object) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing.
b. to have great confidence in.
12. swear in, to admit to office or service by administering an oath.
13. swear off, to promise to give up (something, esp. intoxicating beverages).
14. swear out, to secure (a warrant for arrest) by making an accusation under oath.
[before 900; Middle English sweren, Old English swerian, c. Old Frisian swaria, Old Saxon, Old High German swerian, Old Norse sverja; akin to Gothic swaran to swear; compare answer]
swear′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.