Obs. Also 4 suar, suare, swar. [Partly OE. *swaru, in andswaru ANSWER sb., mánswaru perjury (cf. MANSWEAR); partly a. ON. svar answer: f. root swar- (see SWEAR v.). Cf. next.]
1. Swearing: an oath.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 163. Curs, and leasinges, and sware, and alle swikele speches.
c. 1250. Hymn to God, 35, in Trin. Coll. Hom., App. 259. Mid wicke speche & false sware.
c. 1275. Lay., 10893. Þo was wo Coel … þat he sahtnesse mid sware [c. 1205 treoðe] hadde ifastned.
a. 1327. Pol. Songs (Camden), 247. Y charge ou by oure sware, That ȝe to Engelonde be trewe.
a. 1400. Pauline Epistles, Gal. iii. 17. Þis … testament confermyd of god þurgh sware.
c. 1430. Freemasonry, 257. Ny no fals sware sofre hem to make.
2. Answer, reply.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2422. Whi ȝaff ȝho swillc anndswere onnȝæn?… Nu wile I shæwenn ȝuw forrwhi Ȝho ȝaff swillc sware onnȝæness.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1184. Þe bischop … Gase him doun … Swiftly to þe swiars & þam his sware ȝeldis.
3. Saying, speech, word.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17819 (Cott.). Þai hailsed þaim wit suetli suar.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 17. Scho wiped his feet wit her hare, And kissed thaim wit suetli suare.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1200. Sum swalt in a swym with-outen sware more.
