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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Swear \Swear\, verb (used without an object) [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 The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Sworn \Sworn\, p. p. of {Swear}.
{Sworn brothers}, originally, companions in arms who took an oath to share together good and bad fortune; hence, faithful friends.
{Sworn enemies}, determined or irreconcilable enemies.
{Sworn friends}, close friends.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
swear
verb
1: utter obscenities or profanities; "The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street" [syn: {curse}, {cuss}, {blaspheme}, {imprecate}]
2: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" [syn: {affirm}, {verify}, {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"; "I swear by my grandmother's recipes" [syn: {trust}, {rely}, {bank}] [ant: {distrust}, {distrust}] [also: {sworn}, {swore}]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
sworn
adjective
1: bound by or as if by an oath; "according to an early tradition became his sworn brother"; "sworn enemies" [syn: {pledged}]
2: bound by or stated on oath; "now my sworn friend and then mine enemy"- Shakespeare [ant: {unsworn}]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
sworn See {swear}
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
45 Moby Thesaurus words for "sworn": affianced, affirmed, alleged, announced, asserted, asseverated, assured, attested, averred, avouched, avowed, betrothed, bound, certified, committed, compromised, confirmed, contracted, declared, deep-dyed, deep-rooted, deep-seated, deposed, dyed-in-the-wool, engaged, entrenched, enunciated, guaranteed, intended, manifestoed, obligated, pledged, plighted, predicated, professed, promised, pronounced, settled, stated, sworn to, underwritten, vouched, vouched for, vowed, warranted
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