Pa. t. swore; pa. pple. sworn. Forms: 1–2 swerian, (1 swer(i)ʓan, suerian, 2 sweriȝen), 2–4 swerie(n, sweren, (3 swærie, suerie, 4 swery(e, Ayenb. zuerie), 3–5 swer, 4–5 suer, 4–6 suere, 4–7 swere, (4 squere, 5 sqwere, sweire, sweyre, suerne, 6 shwere), 5–9 Sc. sweir, (6 Sc. sueir), 6–7 sweare, 6–8 sware, 6– swear. Pa. t. α. 1–5 swor, 2–4 suor, 3 sweor, 4 suore, Ayenb. zuor, 4–5 Sc. swour, swoir, 4–5 (8–9 Sc.) swoor, 6 Sc. swoyr, 7 swoare, 3– swore. β. 3–4 swar, 4 suar(e, square, 4–7, 9 arch. sware. γ. 4 swer, suer, 4–5 swere, squere. δ. 1 swerede, 6 swered, 7 (9 dial.) sweared; 5 swarid, sward. Pa. pple. α. 1–6, 8 sworen, 3 sweoren, 4 suorn, 4–5 squorn(e, 5 suoren, 5–7 sworne, suorne, (6 swarne, soren, sorne, shorne, Sc. suoryne), 4– sworn; 2 ʓesworen, 3–4 i-, ysworen, 4–5 ysworn(e. β. 3–5 suore, 3–5, 7–9 (now dial. or vulgar) swore; 3 ysuore, 3–5 iswore, 4–5 yswore, 5 iswoor, (i-swere). γ. 4 yswered. [Com. Teut. str. vb. (sporadically wk.) with j-present stem: OE. swęrian, swór, rarely swerede, -swaren, usually -sworen, = OFris. swaria, swera, also swara, swora, OS. swerian, -swôr, -sworen, (M)LG. sweren, swôr, swâren, swôren, MDu. sweren, (Du. zweren), OHG. suuerian, suuerran, suôr, gisworan (for *giswaran), MHG. swern, swûr, swuor, dial. swerete, gesworn, geswarn (G. schwören, schwur, † schwor, geschworen), ON. sverja, sór, svór, svarinn, also wk. svarði, svarðr (Sw. svärja, Da. sværge):—OTeut. *swarjan (not in Goth., which has a new formation swaran), f. swar-, whence also ON. svar answer, svara to answer, SWARE, and OE. and-swaru ANSWER. The ulterior relations of the root are uncertain.
The conjugation of this verb has been influenced from early times by that of BEAR v. (OE. beran). The regular pa. t. swore (OE. swór) has never ceased to be extensively current, but from the 15th to the 17th cent. sware, formed on the analogy of bare (OE. bær, bǽron), was widespread: swar occurs as early as the first text of Layamon; suar(e is the prevailing form in the Cotton MS. of Cursor Mundi; sware and swore are both used in Malory’s Morte Darthur; sware is the only form in the Bible of 1611 (exc. in the Apocrypha), but is rare in the 1st Folio of Shakespeare. In the 14th and 15th a by-form swere occurs, after bere.]
I. 1. intr. To make a solemn declaration or statement with an appeal to God or a superhuman being, or to some sacred object, in confirmation of what is said; to take an oath.
Const. by, on, or upon that to which appeal is made (see 13, 16), in OE. on, þurh, under.
a. 900. Laws of K. Ælfred, Introd. c. 48. Ne swerʓen ʓe næfre under hæðne godas.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. v. 34. Ego autem dico uobis non iurare omnino, ic uutetlice cueðo iuh to ne sueriʓe æfre [Rushw. Þæt ʓe ne sellaþ hað vel swerʓe allunga, Ags. Gosp. þæt ʓe eallunga ne swerion, Hatton sweriʓan].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 70. Ȝe ne schulen uor none þinge ne warien, ne swerien, bute ȝif ȝe siggen witterliche, oðer sikerliche.
1340. Ayenb., 6. Ine non oþre manyere ne is no riȝt to zuerie.
c. 1410. Lanterne of Liȝt, xii. 89. Ȝit enemyes purswen aȝen þis comaundement, & seyn þat Crist him silf swore, and hise seintis boþe.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 6848 (Trin.). Trowe on no goddes fals, Swereþ not I bidde ȝou als.
1660. in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 122. Wee dare not sware least we sin against our God.
1716. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), V. 382. Charlett himself told me I should be forced to quit, if I did not swear (as I was resolved not to do).
1798. Coleridge, Fears in Solitude, 73. The Book of Life is made A superstitious instrument, on which We gabble o’er the oaths we mean to break; For all must swear.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxii. ‘As a magistrate,… if you refuse to answer my questions, I must put you upon your oath.’ ‘Troth, sir, I am no free to swear.’
2. To promise or undertake something by an oath; to take an oath by way of a solemn promise or undertaking. (Const. as in 1; also const. dat. or to the person to whom the promise is made.) a. intr. (See also 17 a.)
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xiv. [xv.] 4. Qui jurat proximo suo et non decepit eum, se swereð ðæm nestan his & ne beswac hine.
c. 1205. Lay., 22865–7. Ærst sweor Arður … seoððen sworen eorles.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2433. Iosep swor him al-so he bad.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18362 (Cott.). Þou has þam drund and don forfare, Als þou til ur for-eildres suare.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1321, Dido. And so ȝe wele me now to wiue take As ȝe han sworne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 11837. Priam on his part, & his prise knightes, Sweryn all swiftly, & no swyke thoghtyn.
1562. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), i. 134. Credence is past off promeis, thot thai sweir.
1634. Milton, Comus, 1011. From her fair unspotted side Two blissful twins are to be born, Youth and Joy; so Jove hath sworn.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. vi. § 6. God is said to swear when he binds himself absolutely to performance.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. ‘Can I rely upon your secrecy?’… ‘You can’ … ‘Hear me swear—.’ ‘No, no … don’t swear, it’s quite unnecessary.’
1902. Violet Jacob, Sheep-Stealers, viii. ‘Swear, I tell ye.’ ‘I swear it, so help me God.’
fig. 1610. Shaks., Temp., I. i. 62. Hee’l be hang’d yet, Though euery drop of water sweare against it, And gape at widst to glut him.
b. with inf.
1154. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1140. Alle diden him manred, & suoren þe pais to halden.
c. 1290. Beket, 1007, in S. Eng. Leg., 135. He suor to holde þe eorþelich honur and hath i-broke is oth.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 3405. xi kinges & doukes on Han ysworn, Arthour to slon.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13643. Fayne were þo freikes … And swiftly þai swere … To be lell to þe lord all his lyf tyme.
1441. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 7. He sall swere to keep this statute.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 71. All maner persones of holy Churche … that shal swere to kepe this presente accord.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 322. Or in this abject posture have ye sworn To adore the Conquerour?
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xvii. I have sworn to speak the truth only.
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, II. 274. [He] swore not to raise his camp until he had gained possession of the place.
1867. Howells, Ital. Journ., 105. At last we leave the gates, and swear each other to come again many times while in Naples.
ellipt. 1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. iv. 107. They shooke hands, and swore brothers.
c. with clause (occas. with quoted words).
c. 1000. Ælfric, Josh. ii. 12. Sweriað me nu þurh drihten, þæt ʓe don eft wið me swilce mildheortnisse, swa ic macode wið eow.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 213. Þe sullere … swereð þat he hit nele lasse selle, þe beggere … swereð þat he nele more geuen.
c. 1205. Lay., 29078. Heo … sworen þat heo wolden Heore forward halden. Ibid. (c. 1275), 5866. We ȝou wolleþ swerie Vppen houre swerdes Þat we wolleþ ȝou bi-fore Libbe oþer ligge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3225 (Cott.). Apon his kne he did him suere [Fairf. squere] Þat he suld be lel errand berer.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 445. He hadde byhote and i-swore þat he schulde ȝelde Normandye to Richard.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), xxii. Thenne he squere, ‘Be Ihesu, Mare sun, That body schalle neuyr in the erthe come, My siluyr tille that I haue.’
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 864. He … swour he suld be wengit on that deid.
a. 1529. Skelton, E. Rummyng, 164. Elynour swered, Nay, Ye shall not beare away My ale for nought, By hym that me bought!
1592. Soliman & Pers., V. ii. 63. He lept for ioy, swearing and promising That our reward should be redoubled.
1689. in Acts Parl. Scot. (1875), XII. 51/1. I faithfully promitt in presence of the almighty god and swear þat I shall demean my self faithfully.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, IV. xiv. Rokeby sware, No rebel’s son should wed his heir.
d. trans. With pron. as obj.
[a. 1000. Elene, 686 (Gr.). Ic þæt ʓesweriʓe þurh sunu meotodes … þæt ðu hungre scealt … cwylmed weorðan.]
c. 1205. Lay., 22507. Ælche ȝere Ȝiuen [ich] þe wulle æhte … Þis ich wullen þe swerien.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 96. Ich heuede isworen hit, luuien ich mot te.
c. 1300. Havelok, 398. Godard stirt up, an swor al þat þe king him bad.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1231. As I best koude I swore hir this.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2331. He rathir chees be disobedient … Than be forsworn of þat he swoor so depe.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 9. Quhateuer he sweir to ony man,… His promeis he will keip.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 96. How soon would highth recal high thoughts, how soon unsay What feign’d submission swore.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 246. Harold then … swore, but what he swore is as uncertain as it is when and where he swore it.
3. trans. With certain sbs.: To promise or undertake on oath to observe or perform (something).
a. fidelity, allegiance, etc.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1123 (Laud). Se ærceb[iscop] swor him underþeodnysse of ealle ða þing [etc.].
c. 1290. Beket, 1017, in S. Eng. Leg., 135. Þou suore þe kynge eorþelich honour and nelt don him non.
13[?]. K. Alis., 7427 (Laud MS.). Hij duden hym alle feute And sworen to hym also leute.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 331. Arthur … ȝaf hym Hampschire and Somersete … and fey was i-swore to hym.
c. 1440. Partonope (1862), 2723. The king of Fraunce tolde homage and ther-to suer hostage, That they shulde him bere fayth and trouth.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iv. 169. Then sweare Allegeance to his Majesty. Ibid. (1595), John, V. iv. 19. That Altar, where we swore to you Deere Amity, and euerlasting loue.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 76. That the Noblemen and Commons shoulde presently sweare obedience vnto them.
1675. Crowne, Andromache, IV. Go, swear to her, the faith thou swor’st to me.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xviii. While the French nation and army were swearing fidelity round the eagles in the Champ de Mars.
absol. a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2104. Þar sere citis of þa sidis to him-selfe sweren.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. ii. 47. Son. What is a Traitor? Wife. Why one that sweares, and lyes.
b. an action that is to be accomplished.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3994 (Cott.). Lauerd, þou send me now þi rede, Gains esau has suorn [Fairf. squorne] mi dede.
15[?]. Christ’s Kirk, 25, in Bann. MS. (Hunter. Cl.), 283. Thocht all hir kin had sworn hir deid.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxvii. 277. Thus duke Raoull sware the deth of Huon.
a. 1575. Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne Cl.), 308. Be the tennour heirof sueris and promeissis ane cessatioun and abstinence from hostilitie.
1592. Arden of Feversham, II. ii. 131. The villaine hath sworne the slaughter of his maister.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Hist. Greece, II. 150. Whose destruction they had more than once swore.
1859. FitzGerald, Omar, lxx. Repentance oft before I swore.
c. conditions, an agreement.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1094 (Laud). Þær seo forewarde ær wæs ʓewroht and eac ʓesworen.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 51. Þe articules þat he hadde i-swore in his crownynge.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 113. Cas. And let vs sweare our Resolution. Brut. No, not an Oath.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 49. Thou ne’re swore our covenant.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, an. 1675 (1724), I. 381. When the long Parliament engaged into the league with Scotland, he would not swear the Covenant.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, VI. 167. A truce we swore; Jove witnessed the deed.
4. To affirm, assert, or declare something by an oath; to make oath to the truth of a statement. (Const. as in 1.) a. intr.: spec. to give evidence on oath (against a person). Now rare.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, ci. 9 [cii. 8]. Adversum me jurabant, [hi] wið me sworun.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 58. Al swere I nat, of this I wol nat lye.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), xxiii. Quen Sir Amadace herd that he hade squorne.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, xxi. He was reqwyred to come before þe iuges & make þer a bodely oth wheythir he was gilty in þis mater or nowt. But þis refused he, for he saide he had leuer be exiled þan swere.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 442. That which followeth I saw, where-of who so doubteth, I will sweare.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 206. Swearing till my very rough [= roof] was dry With oathes of loue. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., V. i. 133. At what ease Might corrupt mindes procure, Knaues as corrupt To sweare against you.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., I. 1012. Against themselves their Witnesses will Swear.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xxii. 274. Why ask my father?—that old man will swear Against my life; besides, he wasn’t there.
(b) With home or hyperbolical expressions, as through a two-inch board; also, to swear one’s way through...: denoting hard swearing.
1678. Ray, Prov. (ed. 2), 271. He’ll swear through an inch board, dagger out of sheath, the devil out of hell, ’till he’s black in the face.
1680. in Hickeringill’s Wks. (1716), II. 202. He swore home, or (as we say, through an Inch-board) against Records.
1722. [see HOME adv. 5].
1728. Earl of Ailesbury, Mem. (1890), 372. Then he went through thick and thin, and, according to an old English phrase, swore through a two-inch board.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. xvi. That severe exertion which is known in legal circles as swearing your way through a stone wall.
b. with clause (or equivalent obj. and compl. or acc. and inf.): often also, to affirm emphatically or confidently (without an oath).
688–95 (c. 950). Laws of Ine (Liebermann), c. 56. Oððe swerie þæt he him nan facn on nyste.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 74. Ða ætsoc he & swerede þæt he næfre þone man ne cuþe.
1038. Charter of Harold Haranfot, in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 57. Se king … swor … under god ælmihtine & under ealle halʓan þarto þæt hit næfre næs na his ræd na his dæd.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1964. Til him he sweren ðat he liued.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17493. Der yee suer, for godds blis, Þat yee herd and sagh al þis?
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 122. He wolde preyen her to swere What was that worde.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 34. Haukyn … liȝtly gan swerye, ‘Who so leueth ȝow, by owre lorde I leue nouȝte he be blissed.’
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1378, Hypsipyle. O oftyn sworist thow that thow woldist deye. Ibid. (c. 1386), Prol., 454. I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Alfonce iii. [He] swore vpon the holy euangely that he toke none of the ryche mans oylle.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 232 b. Sweryng by sainct George that the kyng of Englande was not extracted of no noble house.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cxlvii. I haue sworne thee faire, and thought thee bright.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 468. She swore I loued her not, began to lament her selfe, wept, and cryd; O vnconstant men.
1674. C. F., Wit at a Venture, 60. Our Town … Can’t shew the like I’le sware.
1711. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 116. To refuse swearing the said Queen to be head … of the English church, was a premunire.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess of Bristol, 1 April. I dare swear … that … ’tis a very comfortable reflection to you.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. His men came back in a fright, swearing they had seen a swimming house.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxix. He swore it was as good as a play to see her in the character of a fine dame.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., iv. 39. He swore to himself that he did love her.
c. trans. with pron. as obj.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 9. Al þat we more sweriȝeð, swo it is euel and senne.
c. 1275. Sinners Beware, 19, in O. E. Misc., 72. Ah ich hit segge and swerie.
c. 1300. Havelok, 647. Soth it is, þat men seyt and suereth.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7638. But trustith wel, I swere it yow, That it is clene out of his thought.
1638. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 124. By my soule I dare swear itt.
1649. C. Walker, Hist. Independ., II. 105. Should they Vote … Oliver’s Nose a Ruby, they would expect we should sweare it, and fight for it.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxi. Her father … tormented himself with imagining what the one sister might say or swear.
5. trans. With certain sbs.: a. To take an oath as to the fact or truth of; to confirm (a statement) by oath. Also † to swear sooth, truth.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 160. Her syre was a sysour þat neure swore treuthe.
1382. Wyclif, Eccl. ix. 2. As a forsworn, so and he that soth swerth [orig. ut perjurus, ita et ille qui verum dejerat].
1565. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 404. Havand diverse of thair servandis fylit in the billis of Elname Newtoun … quhilkis billis ar sworne.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, III. (1823), II. 300. Depositions were prepared for them: and they promised to swear them.
1755. Johnson, s.v., He swore treason against his friend.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 387. Every such affidavit … shall be sworn before a person duly authorized to take affidavits in this court.
1847. Lady Blessington, Marmaduke Herbert, lxii. Two men … against whom Mr. Herbert had sworn information for a conspiracy to extort money from him.
b. To proclaim or declare with an oath or solemn affirmation.
To swear the peace against: see PEACE sb. 9 b.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1823. He … swere swyftely his sothe; þat he hit sese nolde.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 300. Whan he hath his trouthe suore.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 175. I heard him sweare his affection.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 814. The just Decree of God, pronounc’t and sworn.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. li. 513. That they should swear his supremacy, and obedience to him before some priest.
1871. Morley, Carlyle, in Crit. Misc., Ser. I. (1878), 168. A man of genius is at liberty to … swear all his conclusions.
c. To value on oath at so much.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., lxv. (1901), II. 199. She died.—Her wealth was great … and the Captain … soon discovered he might swear the property under twelve thousand pounds, without defrauding himself.
1873. Chambers’s Jrnl., 10 May, 304/2. James Wood, of Gloucester, who died in 1836, possessed of property sworn under £900,000.
1895. Law Times, C. 508/1. The gross personal estate is sworn at £37,405. 16. 10.
6. To take or utter (an oath), either solemnly or profanely (cf. 8). Also const. as in 1, 2, 4.
Beowulf, 472 (Gr.). He me aþas swor.
c. 1050. O. E. Chron., an. 1049 (MS. C). [He] cwæð þæt he him aþas sweriʓan wolde & him hold beon. Ibid. (a. 1123), an. 1109. Ðær wurdon … þa aðas ʓesworene his dohter þam Casere to ʓifene.
c. 1205. Lay., 653. Þe king wes swiðe wrað & swar muchelne oað.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 198. Þisses hweolpes [sc. Blasphemy] nurice is þe þet swereð greate oðes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4650. Al þat barunage,… To þis ioseph an ath þai suare.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 82. By Mahomet ys oþ þanne a swer. Ibid., 1045. Y til him am trewe ypliȝt & haue myn oþ yswered.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, Prol. 2. Grete fals othes that the fals men vsen to swere to the women.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. ii. 275. He … sware a grete othe that he shold slee her but yf she told hym trouthe.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 17 b. Thys othe he sware in the great Church of Bruges.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 74. [Queen Elizabeth] swearing her usual oath demanded, who is this?
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 629. He … mumbling, swears A bible-oath to be whate’er they please.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxiii. Never was false oath sworn on this most sacred relique but it was avenged within the year.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. ix. My lord swore one of his large oaths that he did not know in the least what she meant.
transf. 1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iv. 87. Being thus frighted, [he] sweares a prayer or two & sleepes againe.
1823. Byron, Juan, XIV. xxxiv. Sires, The Nestors of the sporting generation, Swore praises, and recall’d their former fires.
† 7. To use (a sacred name) in an oath; to invoke or appeal to (a deity, etc.) by an oath: = 13 a.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3498. Tac ðu nogt in idel min namen, Ne swer it les to fele in gamen.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 603. Swere nat hys name yn ydulnys.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 60. Many … men swerynge herte & bonys & nailis & oþere membris of crist.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5965. Yit wolde I swere, for sikirnesse, The pole of helle to my witnesse.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, VIII. xiv. (MS. Bodl. 263), 384/1. Nat afferd to suere goddis bonys With horrible orbes of bodi flessh & blood.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 174. But nowe eche sweareth the Eucharist commonly.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. i. 163. Lear. Now by Apollo. Kent. Now by Apollo, King. Thou swear’st thy Gods in vaine.
8. intr. To utter a form of oath lightly or irreverently, as a mere intensive, or an expression of anger, vexation, or other strong feeling; to use the Divine or other sacred name, or some phrase implying it, profanely in affirmation or imprecation; to utter a profane oath, or use profane language habitually; more widely, to use bad language. (See also 12.) † To swear and stare: see STARE v. 3 a.
c. 1430. How Good Wife taught Dau., 62, in Babees Bk. (1868), 29. To swere be þou not leefe.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xxvi. They wyll say he that swereth depe, swereth like a lorde.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 15 b. Let him … in no wyse suffer them [sc. servants] to sweare or to blaspheme.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., I. (1877), 72. Then fell shee to sweare and teare…, to cursse and banne.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 188. Oft haue I seene the haughty Cardinall … Sweare like a Ruffian.
1706. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., III. 17. Your Folly makes me stare; Such talk would make a Parson swear. Ibid. (1706), Wooden World Diss. (1708), 45. He never swears but in his Cups.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., ix. O, sir, it would have frightened you to hear a Christian babe like him swear as he did.
1902. G. K. Menzies, Prov. Sk., 17. Where a golfer, club in hand, Freely swears As he hacks with all his might.
b. To utter a harsh guttural sound, as an angry cat or other animal. colloq.
c. 1700. Kennett, MS. Lansd. 1033, s.v., The dog swears when he grumbles and snarles.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., Concl. 232. [The cat] swears, she growls, and shews all the salvage motions of her heart.
1896. F. Galton, in Spectator, 11 April, 515. When Phyllis was a kitten she had wild fits, tearing round the room and ‘swearing’ horribly.
1902. Strand Mag., Jan., 72/2. Away to the east an angry [locomotive] engine was swearing.
9. trans. a. To bring or get into some specified condition or position by swearing. (See also IV.)
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 275. Berowne did sweare himselfe out of all suite.
1616. S. S., Honest Lawyer, IV. G 4 b. I would sweare them to the Gallous, as well as they swore me out of my money.
1728. [De Foe], Street-Robberies, 6. She might have swore her Eyes out of her Head, for the unbelieving Wretches did not mind what she said or swore.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, vii. The miller swore himself as black as night that he stopt them at twelve o’clock.
1846. D. Jerrold, Mrs. Caudle, x. Because once in your lifetime your shirt wanted a button, you must almost swear the roof off the house.
b. To put upon or ascribe to a person in a sworn statement.
1754. Goodall, Exam. Lett. Mary Q. Scots, I. Introd. 12. To the end that they might convict Murray and his party, both of murdering the King, and of forging papers, and then swearing them upon her.
1785. Trusler, Mod. Times, II. 142. To … lay them [sc. their bastards] at the doors of some gentlemen’s houses, or swear them to persons that had been their common disturbers.
1900. Weyman, Sophia, iii. A silver tankard and twenty-seven guineas she took with her, and I’ll swear them to you. By God, I will!
II. 10. Orig. pass. To be bound by oath (see also sworn brother, etc. s.v. SWORN); hence actively, to cause to take an oath; to bind by an oath; to put (a person) upon his oath; to administer an oath to. Also const. on as in 1.
c. 1050. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 375/21. Conspirati, onan ʓesworene.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xlix. 148. Good schame, holynesse, & curtesye As breþuren ben sworen.
1431. E. E. Wills, 88. [I bequeath] To Maude Wilbe, xx li, so am y sworne.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, xvii. Thereof y am suore.
1483–7. Star Chamber Proc. (Som. Rec. Soc., 1911), 43. The same abbot wold not be sworne vppon eny answer.
1514. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 90. To be suorn the gret bodelie aitht.
1545. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.), 80. William Warwyck … sworen vpon his othe sayth.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 301. The first intergatory That my Nerrissa shall be sworne on.
1681. Trial S. Colledge, 35. Mr. Att[orney] Gen[eral]. Swear Stevens. (Which was done.)
1776. Trial of Nundocomar, 52/1. You have sworn me upon the waters of the Ganges: how can I tell more than I remember?
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 418. Tender the oath: if he accepts it, swear him.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., i. (1854), I. 19. Commissioners were appointed throughout the Kingdom to swear every man to the value of his possessions.
1912. Times, 19 Dec., 12/6. A member of a French Roman Catholic Sisterhood objected to be sworn on the Testament.
with compl. a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 137. He … hanged the Frenchmen, because thei wer once sworne English, and after, brake their othe.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 156. Ile sweare my selfe thy Subiect.
1682. Dryden, Mac-Fl., 113. Hannibal did to the Altars come, Swore by his Syre a mortal Foe to Rome.
† b. To have, make, take (a person) sworn: to administer an oath to. Obs.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., liv. Þay made hyme sworne to Sir Gawane.
15[?]. Sir A. Barton, in Surtees Misc. (1890), 69. And ther he tooke me sworne.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 46. The erle of Angwyche … whome the kynge … had hym with the other lordes of Scotlonde shorne and resevyd the sacrament that [etc.].
a. 1600[?]. Lord of Learne, 289, in Furniv., Percy Folio, I. 192. I am tane sworne vpon a booke, & forswore I will not bee.
c. Const. to a person (i.e., in allegiance or service), a rule, a course of action, a declaration, etc. Similarly const. against.
Now chiefly in to swear to secrecy.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5520. Sire … ich was ysuore to him ar to þe.
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 32 b. Eche man … i suuore ant assised to armes … þat is to wite to viftene pond worth of londe.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 168. Now is Cipres lorn fro Isaac & hise, & to R. suorn for his valiantise.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 10. As of the secte of which þat he was born He kepte his lay, to which þat he was sworn.
a. 1400. St. Matthew, 270, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 135. To chastite þan was scho sworn.
c. 1430. Freemasonry (1840), 436. And alle these poyntes hyr before, To her thou most nede be y-swore.
1509. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), 277. Eche of them had offendid the sayd statute of the Cyte whervnto they ware swarne.
1549. Latimer, 7th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 185. I woulde not haue men to be sworne to them, and so adicte as to take hand ouer hed whatsoeuer they say.
1684. Pennsylv. Archives, I. 87. That the Lord Balltemoare had sworne all the Inhabitants … with faith and Alleigense to him.
1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, V. (1692), 108. Let me swear you all to secresy.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 779. The King had sent Commissioners to Swear Men to the Observation of the Charters.
1745. R. Leveson Gower, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), I. 75. We have all been swore to our depositions.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, III. xxiv. Sworn to vigil and to fast.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. vii. He swore Harry to secrecy too, which vow the lad religiously kept.
1859. [Miss Piddington], Last of Cavaliers, xlii. III. 138. Oh, was that Heaven itself sworn against me, that this was always hidden from me, to crush me so at last!
d. with inf.
c. 1325. Poem times Edw. II. (Percy), x. The erchedeknes that beth sworn To visite holy cherche.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 312. I am sworn to holden it secree.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, Table Contents 9. He was sworne vpon a book to telle the trouthe of his queste.
a. 1530. Dk. Norfolk, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 378. I have soren all the Commissioners not to disclose any parte thereof to any other creature.
1531. in J. Bulloch, Pynouris (1887), 62. Five of the best pynouris … sorne the grit aytht to be leill and trew to the merchandis.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 50 b. [The] crowner … assembled a quest … and hath sworne theim truely to enquire of the death of one Rychard Hun.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 213. Thy Sou’raignes Sonne, Whom thou was’t sworne to cherish and defend.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, I. ix. 29. They do not swear us to believe All they deliver.
1773. Blackstone, Comm., I. ii. (ed. 5), 180. A select committee of fifteen members, who are sworn well and truly to try the same.
1805. Colebrooke, Védas, Misc. Ess. 1837, I. 43. The priest swears the soldier by a most solemn oath, not to injure him.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., ix. (1854), II. 96. The … keeper of the great seal was to be sworn to issue writs for a new parliament.
e. with clause. ? Obs.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, xix. They were suoren that none shulde late his wiff haue weting of her wager.
1570. in Archaeologia, XL. 392. This examynate dyd swere hym upon a booke that he shuld not practys the same.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., I. i. 83. [We] were sworne to your father at his death, That he should nere returne into the realme.
1679. Establ. Test, 21. His Father swore him before the Altars … that he should be perpetuus Romam nominis Osor.
f. Phr. I dare be sworn, I’ll be sworn, expressing strong affirmation, properly implying readiness to take an oath upon the fact. arch.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 172. I dare be sworne for him, he would not leaue it. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., I. iv. 156. Ile be sworne on a booke shee loues you. Ibid. (1610), Temp., III. iii. 26. Ile be sworne ’tis true.
1693. Humours Town, 4. I’ll be sworn, it has seem’d an Age to me.
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, I. ix. I dare be sworn the good man spent the whole night in painting it himself.
11. spec. To admit to an office or function by administering a formal oath. (See also 20.)
a. 1049. O. E. Chron., an. 1041 (MS. C). He … was to cinge ʓesworen.
a. 1400. Old Usages Winchester, in Eng. Gilds, 350. Þer sholde be twey baylyues y-swore in þe Citee.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 86 b. He appointeth and sweareth others in theyr steade.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 130. Men empaneled and sworne for to enquire of the aforesayd articles.
1623–4. Act 21 Jas. I, c. 31 § 1. To … choose and sweare one Master two Wardens sixe Searchers and foure and twentie Assistantes.
1681. Trial S. Colledge, 21. Mr. Sheriff, there are a great many of the Jury that are not Sworn, they are discharged.
1712. Prideaux, Direct. Ch.-wardens (ed. 4), 46. If any Arch-Deacon … shall refuse to Swear a Church-warden into his Office.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VII. xi. Lafayette … swears the remaining Bodyguards, down in the Marble-Court.
1857. Toulmin Smith, Parish, 91. A Churchwarden may execute his office before he is sworn.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, viii. The jury were sworn.
b. with compl., usually expressing the office or function to which the person is appointed.
c. 1205. Lay., 30128. Kinges heo weoren ihouene & kinges isworene.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 73. The xxti day of December [1551], was sorne the byshoppe of Ely lorde [chancellor of Engla]nd.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. iii. 55. I am come to fetch you home: I am sworn of the peace.
1608. in Capt. J. Smith’s Wks. (Arb.), p. xc. Master Archers quarrell to me was … because I would not sware him of the Councell for Virginia.
1626. Earl of Wintoun in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS Comm., App. I. 45. Sum ladys ar suorne of the Quenis bed chalmer. Ibid. (1628), Var. Coll., IV, 238. A certificate … that he … be fitt to be sworne a free cittizen.
1665. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 244. I am told Sir John Dynham’s Lady and fine Mrs. Middleton are swore the Queen’s Dressers.
1727. Pope, etc., Art of Sinking, 125. This may be obviated by swearing those six persons of his majesty’s privy council.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 151. Richard … had been sworn of the Irish Privy Council.
III. 12. Swear at —. a. To imprecate evil upon by an oath; to address with profane imprecation; gen. to utter maledictions against; to curse.
1680. H. More, Apocal. Apoc., 357. The Wits of this age that are ready to swear and flear at any such profession.
1779. Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 13. In a fury, swearing like an Emperor at all the world.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, III. iii. Master Joseph Diggs did nothing but blaspheme and swear at his customers.
1863. Susan Warner, Old Helmet, xxiii. He swore at them [sc. drives in the park] for the stupidest entertainment man ever pleased himself with.
1891. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Lumley, iv. This important man, who was probably swearing at fate that he must pass the next two hours [etc.].
b. fig. Of colors, etc.: To be violently incongruous or inharmonious with. colloq. (Cf. F. jurer.)
1884. Daily News, 10 Nov., 3/1. Two tints that swear at each other.
1889. Harper’s Mag., Jan., 258/2. What is new in it in the way of art, furniture, or bric-à-brac … may ‘swear’ at the old furniture and the delightful old portraits.
13. Swear by —. a. To appeal to, or use a formula of appeal to (a divine being or sacred object, or something affectedly or trivially substituted therefor) in swearing; to say ‘by …’ as a form of oath: cf. BY prep. 2.
To swear by no beggars, by no bugs: see BUGGAR sb. 1 c, BUG sb.1 1.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 597. He sweren bi ðe rode, bi ðe sunne & bi ðe mone.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6847 (Cott.). Bi fals godds suer yee nan.
a. 1300. Pol. Songs (Camden), 70. Sire Simond de Mountfort hath swore bi ys chyn [etc.]. Ibid. Sire Simond de Montfort hath suore bi ys cop [etc.].
1340. Ayenb., 45. A knyȝt wes þet zuor be godes eȝen.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s Prol., 17. In Pilates voys he gan to crie And swoor by Armes, and by blood, and bones.
14[?]. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (Rolls), App. K. 3 (MS. β). Þer of we schul awreke beo, I swere be my heued.
c. 1470. Gol. & Gaw., 1045. I swere be suthfast God, that settis all on sevin!
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 278. Bene. By my sword Beatrice thou lou’st me. Beat. Doe not sweare by it and eat it.
a. 1631. Donne, Sat., i. 13. First sweare by thy best love in earnest … Thou wilt not leave mee in the middle street, Though some more spruce companion thou dost meet.
1721. Wodrow, Hist. Suff. Ch. Scot. (1838), I. I. iv. 333/2. That to swear by faith, conscience, and the like, were innocent ways of speaking.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxxi. III. 229. They had sworn, by the sacred head of the emperor himself.
1842. Tennyson, Godiva, 24. He laugh’d, and swore by Peter and by Paul. Ibid. (1877), Harold, V. i. 67. The strange Saints By whom thou swarest.
b. To swear to or be sure of the existence of (cf. 17 b): in phr. enough to swear by, expressing a very slight amount. colloq. or slang.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 138. They prescribe them … in some quantity, though it be but enough to swear by.
1884. ‘H. Collingwood,’ Under Meteor Flag, 40. The two ships touched with a shock which was barely perceptible, just enough in fact to ‘swear by,’ as the gunner remarked.
c. To accept as an infallible authority; to have absolute confidence in. colloq.
c. 1815. Jane Austen, Persuas., vi. I have no very good opinion of Mrs. Charles’s nursery-maid…. Mrs. Charles quite swears by her.
1864. Yates, Broken to Harness, x. I. 173. He is always … changing his medical system; now vaunting the virtues of blue-pill, now swearing by homœopathy.
1890. Henty, With Lee in Virginia, 91. We have a first-rate fellow in command of the cavalry … His fellows swear by him.
14. Swear for —. To answer for under oath, or with assurance. ? Obs.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 60. It is hard to say that all offend, yet I promise you, I wil sweare for none.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 155. Ile sweare for ’em.
15. Swear off —. To abjure, forswear, renounce. (Cf. 21 c.) colloq. or slang.
1898. A. F. Leach, Beverley Act Bk. (Surtees), I. 315. Ingelram keeps a concubine…. Confesses and swears off her.
16. Swear on (or upon) —. To take an oath, symbolically touching or placing the hand on (a sacred object); † formerly also, to swear by (a deity, etc.) = 13 a: cf. ON prep. 1 f.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxiii. 18. Quicumque iurauerit in altari, seðe suerias on wiʓ-bed.
c. 1205. Lay., 22860. Bringeð þene halidom, And ich wulle swerien þer on.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1077. The king aþelwald me dide swere Vpon al þe messegere Þat [etc.] Ibid., 1082. Þat gart he me sweren on þe bok.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 97. Dauid … Dubbede knihtes, Dude hem swere on hear swerd to serue treuþe euere.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 11381. All sweire þai, full swiftly, vpon swete haloues.
1553. Respublica, 1131. For my parte, I will sware the gosspell booke vppon.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 130. l’le sweare vpon that Bottle, to be thy true subiect.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Lord John, xiv. Were I on my father’s sword to swear.
17. Swear to —. a. To promise or undertake with a solemn oath (an act or course of action): cf. 2. Now rare.
[1028–60. Laws Northumbrian Priests, § 57 (Liebermann 384/1). Pæt hi hit ʓegaderian and eft aʓifan, swa hi durran to swerian.]
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 53. Longa. You swore to that Berowne, and to the rest.
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 401. Even when he had deeply sworn to it.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, v. 275. The English … made all, that reigned over them, to sware to the keeping of them.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xx. I have sacrificed to you projects of vengeance long nursed, and sworn to with ceremonies little better than heathen.
b. To affirm with an oath; to express assurance of the truth of (a statement), or the identity of (a person or thing), by swearing.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 291. He knowes I am no Maid, and hee’l sweare too ’t.
a. 1718. Prior, Better Answer to Chloe Jealous, iii. Od’s Life! must One swear to the Truth of a Song?
1757. Hume, Hist. Gt. Brit., II. iii. 120. The greatest interest could not engage him [sc. a quaker], in any court of judicature, to swear even to the truth.
1802. Maria Edgeworth, Moral T., Forester, xix. Mr. W— held the book to him, and demanded whether he would swear to the person from whom he received the note.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., xii. Mr. Abednego and the two gentlemen from Houndsditch were present to swear to their debts.
1848. G. Wyatt, Revelat. an Orderly (1849), 82. They came and swore to having served the dustucks.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, v. I. 42. There was something about his toute ensemble … that would have made an Australian policeman swear to him as a convict without the least hesitation.
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxiv. 315. You could swear to its authenticity, or the reverse, if necessary?
IV. 18. Swear away. To take away by swearing; to give evidence on oath so as to destroy or cause the loss of.
a. 1763. W. King, Lit. & Polit. Anecd. (1819), 191. Who for a small bribe would swear away any man’s life.
1873. Edith Thompson, Hist. Eng., xxxv. 172. By him and by others who made a profit of perjury, the lives of many innocent Romanists were sworn away.
1879. Tourgee, Fool’s Err., xi. 50. What! allow a nigger to testify! allow him to swear away your rights and mine!
19. Swear down. a. To put down or put to silence by swearing. b. To bring or call down by swearing.
[c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 659. With othes grete he was so sworn adoun That he was holde wood.]
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 227. There did this periur’d Goldsmith sweare me downe. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., V. i. 243. Though they would swear downe each particular Saint.
20. Swear in. To admit or induct into an office by administering a prescribed oath.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 15 Oct. 1673. To Council, and swore in Mr. Locke, secretary.
1768. Gray, in Corr. w. Nicholls (1843), 80. As soon as I have been sworn in, and subscribed.
1828. Ellenborough, Diary (1881), I. 8. Went to the Cottage to be sworn in as a Privy Councillor and Lord Privy Seal.
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, iv. The municipal authorities … swore in no end of specials as a reserve.
1891. Times (weekly ed.), 16 Aug., 641/3. The process of swearing-in the members of the Lower-House began.
21. Swear off. † a. To resign one’s office. Obs. b. To get rid of or pass off on somebody with an oath or asseveration. c. To abjure something, esp. intoxicating drink (cf. 15).
1698. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 414. This day Mr. Howard, wine cowper, was chose sherif of London, in room of Mr. Moor that swore off.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 14. They … make nothing of turning any common Cart-Horse to the Road,… and swear him off to their best Friend for an excellent Hunter.
1896. Spectator, 15 Feb., 235. Just as a man who has ‘sworn off,’ for a long time, loses the desire for drink.
22. Swear out. † a. To utter a solemn charge or challenge in regard to. Also absol. Obs.
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 1249. Harowdes of armes swore owt than, ‘Yf ther be ony gentylman, To make hys body gode.’
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse Govt., I. v. If any gentleman offer you the least parte of injury, Dicke must be sent for to sweare out the matter.
† b. To forswear, abjure. Obs.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 104. I heare your grace hath sworne out Housekeeping.
c. To turn out or expel by an oath.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutch. (1846), 393. The colonel, thinking it a ridiculous thing to swear out a man … when they had no power to defend themselves against him.
d. To obtain the issue of (a warrant for arrest) by making a charge upon oath. U.S.
1898. Hamblen, Gen. Manager’s Story, xv. 236. The president [of the railroad] … swore out warrants for the arrest of all the members of the committee.
1912. Times, 19 Oct., 5/6. The warrant was ‘sworn out’ by the girl’s mother at Minneapolis.
