Swear

Pronunciation: /swɛər/

Definitions of swear

verb to make a solemn declaration or statement, often invoking a deity or sacred object as witness

Example Sentences

A1 I swear I saw a cat in the garden.

A2 She swears she didn't eat the last cookie.

B1 I swear by all that is holy, I will never do that again.

B2 He swore under his breath as he realized he had forgotten his wallet.

C1 The witness swore on the Bible to tell the truth.

C2 She swore vehemently that she had never met the suspect before.

Examples of swear in a Sentence

formal I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

informal I swear I saw a UFO last night, but no one believes me.

slang I swear that new restaurant is bomb, you have to try it.

figurative I swear, if I have to deal with one more rude customer today, I'm going to lose it.

Grammatical Forms of swear

• past tense: swore
• plural: swears
• comparative: more swearing
• superlative: most swearing
• present tense: swear
• future tense: will swear
• perfect tense: have sworn
• continuous tense: is swearing
• singular: swearer
• positive degree: swear
• infinitive: to swear
• gerund: swearing
• participle: sworn

Origin and Evolution of swear

First Known Use: 1000 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'swear' originated from Old English 'swerian' which meant to make a solemn declaration or promise.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'swear' evolved to include using profane language or taking an oath in a legal context.