DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Swear v. i. [imp. Swore formerly Sware p. p. Sworn p. pr. & vb. n. Swearing.]
 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]

 Swear·ing, a. & n. from Swear, v.
    Idle swearing is a cursedness.   --Chaucer.
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 swearing
      n 1: profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger;
           "expletives were deleted" [syn: curse, curse word, expletive,
            oath, swearword, cuss]
      2: a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of
         law); to lie under oath is to become subject to
         prosecution for perjury [syn: oath]