SWEAT.
SWEAR.
297
Bfaf.
278 Bcnc. By my sword Beatrice thou lou st me.
Doe not sweare by it and eat it. 1x1631 DONNE Sat. i.
best
love
earnest.
.Thou
wilt
sweare
in
First
by thy
13
not leave mee in the middle street, Though some more
meet.
WODROW
Hist.
thou
1721
spruce companion
Stiff. 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
Goiiivii 24 He laugh d, and swore by Peter and by Paul.
Harold v. i. 67 The strange Saints By whom thou
1877
to be sworn in as a Privy Councillor and
Privy Seal.
1857 G. A. LAWRENCE Guy Liv. iv, The municipal authorities
..swore in no end of specials as a reserve. 1891 limes
(weekly ed.) 16 Aug. 641/3 The process of swearing-in the
members of the Lower-House began.
"21.
off.
fa.
resign one s office.
do>t
swarest.
To swear
b.
in
of the existence of
to or be sure
swear
to
phr. enough
by, expressing
a very slight amount, colloq. or slang.
Ess. Waters III. 138 They prescribe them
1756 C. LUCAS -?.
.!_._
..in some quantity, though it be but enottgh to swear by.
1884 H. COLLINGWOOD Under Meteor hlag 40 The two
ships touched with a shock which was barely perceptible,
just enough in fact to swear by, as the gunner remarked.
to haveO. To accept as an infallible authority
absolute confidence in. cotloq.
c 1815 JANE AUSTKN Persuas. vi, I have no very good
(cf.
7 b)
1
:
*
;
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 homoeopathy. 1890
have a first-rate fellow
HKNTV With Lee in Virginia
in command of the cavalry. His fellows swear by htm.
.
.
;
<ji
We
.
To answer for under oath, or
14. Swear forwith assurance. ? Obs.
1579 GOSSON Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 60 It is hard to say that all
.
offend, ret
I
/7/.
SHAKS.
promise you,
/
.
iv. iv.
Swear off. To
15.
wil
I
sweare for none.
for em.
i6ix
He sweare
155
abjure, forswear, renounce.
(Cf. 21 c.) colloq. or slang.
1898 A. F. LEACH Beverlty Act Bk. (Surtees) I. 315 Ingelram keeps a concubine, Confesses and swears off her.
To take an oath,
.
16. Swear on (or upon)
.
.
symbolically touching or placing the hand on (a
sacred object) ; f formerly also, to swear by (a
= 13 a: cf. Ox prep, i f.
deity, etc.)
^950 Lindisf.Gosp. Matt,
xxiii.
i^QuicuuMjueiitraucritin
c iaoj LAV. 22860 BringeS
altar/\ seSc suerias on wi^-bed.
on. c 1300 Havebene halidom, And ich wulle swenen
messelok 1077 The king a|>elwald me dide swere Vpon al
Ibid.
1082
he
me
sweren on
bok.
gere pat [etc.]
pat gart
>er
f>e
J>e
1361 LAKGL. P. PL A. 1.97 Dauid. .Dubbede knihtes, Dude
hear swerd to serue treubeeuere. 1:1400 Destr,
Troy 11381 All sweire bai, full swiftly, vpon swete haloues.
1553 Resfmblii:a 1131 For my parte, 1 will j,ware the gosspell
booke vppon. 1610 SMAKS. Temp. n. ii. 130 I Ie sweare vpon
1821 JOANNA BAILLIE
that Bottle, to be thy true suhiect.
hem swcreon
Metr. Lcg. Lord John
xiv,
t
Were
1
on
my
father s
sword
to swear.
.
a. To promise or undertake
17. Swear to
with a solemn oath (an act or course of action)
:
cf.
Now
2.
rare*
Laws Northumbrian
Priests
57 (Ltebermann
384/1) pxt hi hit Tjegaderian and eft ajifan, swa hi durran to
swerian.l
1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. i. i. 53 Longa. You swore
to that Berowne, and to the rest.
1671 H. M. tr. Erastn.
Colloq. 401 Even when he had deeply sworn to it.
ijrio
PKIDKAUX Orig. Tithes v. 275 The English, .made all, that
reigned over them, to swarc to the keeping of them. 1818
SCOTT Br. Lannn. xx, I have sacrificed to you projects of
vengeance long nursed, and sworn to with ceremonies little
better than heathen.
[1028-60
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. AHs Well v. iii. 291 He knowes I am no
Maid, and heel sweare too *t. a 1718 PRIOR Better Answer
to Chloc 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 [it. aquaker], in any
court of judicature, to swear even to the truth. iSoj MAKIA
KM. WOK u Moral / ., Forester \ \\, Mr.
held the book
to him, and demanded whether he would swear to the person
!
i.
W
i
whom
he received the note.
1841 THACKEKAY Gt.
Hflggtirty Diatn. xu, Mr. Abednego and the two gentlemen
from Hottudsditch were present to swear to their debts. 1848
G. WVATT R eve int. an Orderly (1849) % 2 They tame 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 leant he>itation. 1908
R. BAGOT A. Citthbert xxiv. 315 You could swear to its
authenticity, or the reverse, if necessary?
from
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 \V. KING Lit. * Polit. Attend. (1819) 191 Who for a
small bribe would swear away any man s life. 1873 EDITH
THOMPSON /fist. E-ng, xxxv. 172 By him and by others who
made a profit of perjury, the live-, of man) innocent Roman
ists were sworn away.
1879 TOURCKE Fool s Err, xi. 50
What allow a nigger to testify allow him to swear away
;
!
!
your rights and mine
!
Swear down.
10.
silence
by swearing,
a.
b.
To put down or put to
To bring or call down by
swearing.
[fi386 CHAUCER Milters T. 659 With othes gretc he was
so sworn adoun That he was holde wood.)
1590 SHAKS.
Com. Err. v. i. 337 There did this periur d Goldsmith sweare
me downe. 1603
Meas. for M. v. i. 243 Though they
would swear downe each particular Saint.
20. Swear in.
admit or induct into an
To
by administering a prescribed oath.
a 1700 EVELYN Diary 15 Oct. 1673. To Council, and swore
office
in Mr. Locke, secretary.
1768 (IHAY in Corr, TC-. Nickolls
(1843) 80 As soon as I have been sworn in, and subscribed.
18*8 EI.LENBOROUGH Diary (1881) I. 8 Went to the Cottage
VOL. IX.
countenaunce he maketh in his sweryng. 1526 Pilgr. Per/.
(W. de W. 1531) 94 Swerynge whan it is with deliberacyon
for ony thynge yt is false or vayne, it perteyneth to periury.
1561 T. HOUY tr. Castiglione s Conrtyer ll. (1577) M iij, I
beleeue withoule swearing that you haue no faith also in
1601 SHAKS. Tifcl. N. v. i. 277 And all those
Christe.
sayings, will I oner sweare, And all thuse swearings ktepe
20. 32
as true in soule.
1651 HOUBES Goi t. .y Soc. ii.
Swearing is a speech joyned to a promise, whereby the
unlesse
he
of
Gods
his
iser
declares
mercy,
renouncing
prom
a 1704 T. BROWN Dial. Deaii, Keis.
perform his word,
the
considered
IV.
81
The
Doctor
Wks.
Oaths
taking
1711
of the Oaths to be only an indifferent thing., for otherwise
it had been his Duty to d^suade all Persons, .from Swear
ing.
1837 CARLYLE Ar. A .r. n.i. viii, The February swear
Ix>rd
To
Swear
b. To
get rid of or pass off on somebody
with an oath or asseveration,
c. To abjure some
thing, esp. intoxicating drink (cf. 15).
R
IV.
LUTTRELL
el.
414 This day Mr.
1698
(1857)
Brief
Howard, wine cowper, was chose sherif of London, in room
of Mr. Moor that sworeoff. 1737 BRACKEN Farriery Inipr.
(1757) 11.14 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
Obs.
ing has set
desire for drink.
out the matter.
To
To
1665 MKS. HUTCHINSON Mem. Col. Hutch. (1846) 393 The
colonel, thinking it a ridiculous thing to s^vear ont a man
..when they had no power to defend themselves against him.
d.
obtain the issue of (a warrant for arrest)
president
for the arrest of all the
1912 Times 19 Oct. 5/6 The
warrant was* sworn out by the girl s mother at Minneapolis.
:
see SWI-EK a., SWARD sb.
Swear,
swore out warrants
:
;
oj>er
;
;
4. attrib.
1569 J. SANFOKD
;
A
(1880) 242
meyntenour of wrongis
at louedaies, a fals suerere, a manquellere. c 1390-1400 A*.
Gloucester s Chron. (Rolls) 8833 (MS. B.) He hem out drou.
And false sueryars [v.r. sweryars, sweriers] of assyses,
tr. AgH/^a s I an. Aries liv, 72b, Who
that whiche seethe a man goo with a cocke pase, with a
swearinge gesture, with a tierce countenaunce,. .with an vnpleasaunt spcache, with wild manners, .that doth not iudge
him to be a Germane?
1705 tr. Bosnian s Guinea 149
Every Person entring into any Obligation is obliged to
drink this Swearing Liquor, a 1708 T. WARD Aug. Ref.
iv. (1710) 102 Cowper, who kepi the Swearing Office, In
structed wisely ev ry Novice, In what concern d tjie Swear
210 [I]
ing Art.
1721 AM n ERST Terr* Fit. No. 41. (1754)
swore, engag d my soul, And paid the swearing-broker
whole Ten shilling.
2
ring, ppl. a. [-ING .] That swears.
1. That takes or has taken an oath, esp. an oath
i*
I
I
.
&
dude hem ssame ynou.
1*1440 Prow/>. Parv. 482/2 Swer
Ibid. 483/1 Swerare, bat ofte ys
are, jurator^ juratrix.
labro.
in
loth Kep. Hist. A/S$, Cvtiitit.
forswore,
1441
v. 297 The swerere, if he be pleyntif, shal losse his
App.
Bel
action.
275 in Hazl. E. P. P. II. 149 The
15. .
Adam
justice with a quest of swerers That had juged Cloudesle
there hanged to be.
1598 SHAKS. Merry W. 11. ii. 41 J al.
Good maid, then. Out. lie be sworne, as my mother was
the first houre I was borne. / /. I doe Leleeue the swearer.
5 It must consist of swear
1635 JACKSON Creed \\\\. xviu.
ing men, or of swearers; a new title given by some Roman
regular Calholiques,. .unto such Seculars of their owne pro
fession, as will take the oath of allegiance.
17*0 SWIFT
The Swearer s- Hank or. Parliamentary Security for
New Bank in Ireland. 1837 CARLYLE / V.
Establishing a
I. vi, Consider .. how Bailly, the great Tennis-Court
swears.
swearer, again
1855 MACAULAV Hist. Eng. xiv. III.
447 The swearers ..avoided coming to close quarters with
on
this
the non jurors
point.
1859 DICKENS T. Two Cities
n. iii, The watchful eyes of those forgers and false swearers.
Swea
of allegiance.
1727 P.
:
;
a person addicted
Also with objective of*
to profane language.
^1386 CHAUCER Pars. T. p 518 Euery greet swerere, nat
to
swere.
c 1450 Mirk s Fcstial 229
lawefully
compelled
Scho..ys a claterer, a ianguler, a flyter, a curser, a swerer,
and a skold.
Folys (1570) 172
1509 BARCLAV Shy
ktatiing. Blasphemers and swearers of the name of God,
and ofhis Saintes. 1564 Kef. Friry Council Scot. I. 298
Aii .-nt the swcraiis of abhominabill aithis.
1597 in Maitl.
Club Misc. 1 89 The swciraris and banncns. 1633 G.
Hi HBERT Temple, Ck, Porch x, Take not his name, who
made thy mouth, in vain;.. the cheap swearer through his
I KI.I.
open sluce Lets his soul runne for nought. 1659
linpr. Sea 103 Hee was a most damnable Swearer, and inventer of new Oaths.
1711 STF.HLE Spect. No. 8. P 3, I
know the Lanes and Allies that are inhabited by common
Swearers. 1800 GILPIN Sernt. II. xxvii. (R.) The swearer
continues to swear: tell him of his wickedness he allows it
is great, but he continues to swear on.
<]f
.
1>.
3.
One who
administers an oath to another
Also sweartr-in (see SWEAR v. 20).
(const, of}.
1597 I-. S. Discov. A*/J. Poste B 2b, I graunt he is a
broker, ..but he was first a bailer and a swearer.
1676
2 b. Provided they could be the
MARVKI.L tlfr. Smirk*
Swearers of the Prince to do all due Allegiance to the
Church. 1678 SIR G. MACKENZIE Criin. Laws Scat. n.
xxiii. $ 2. (1699) 346 An Act is to be extracted upon their
said absence, and is to be delivered to the Swearer, or bis
Clerk.
18*7 in Hone Everyday Bk. 1 1. 86, I was obliged
to hire a man as a swearer-in
1865 DICKENS .!/. b r.
i. xii, I am not a swearer in of people, man.
SWEAR v. +
(swe rin) r vbl. sb.
K
Swearing
[f.
The action of the verb SWEAK.
action of taking an oath.
False swearHard swearing: see HARD a. i8b.
ing, perjury.
-INC;
1.
*.]
The
c ioo Vices 4 Virtues 9 Of o5e(s) sueriingge.
1303 R.
Hkt SSK Handl. Synnf 2724 By
tale, $e mo we se alle
fals sweryng wyl cuyl bcfalle. L 1425 J. HILL in lilustr.
Anc. State ^ CkiraJry (Roxb.) 9 Whanne he is called to
bis first
opth, thanne sitteth it to alle his forsaide Connsaillc
to goo with hym..for to here. .how he s-wcreth, and what
J>is
J>at
I
I
s
.\\unc
in
Bias. Presbyt.
language.
Ixviii, Night came quickly upon me
had passed the swearing lad. 1887 F. FRANCIS Jun.
I
Mocassin
Saddle V
5,
guess they [sc. the Mormons] smokes
more, and stands for the swearingest people as there is any
BORROW Wales
1862
after
I
where.
Hence Swea ringly adv.
a 1617 Hi F.RON Wks.
(1620) II. 340
Now
it
talkes viciously, speaks swearingly; suddenly
some words of holinesse and deuution.
SweaT-word.
z-.
-i-
1883 A.
in
curseth man,
it is framing
coiioq. (orig. U^.)
Cf. cuss-word s.v. Cuss
sb.
\Voui>
word used
[(.SWEAR
sb. 3.]
A
word.
profane swearing, a profane
M. Gm\ Printer Politeness 58 A youth who
many swear-words. 1893 DI-N-
his conversation with
mixed
1. 344 A string of naughty swear woids.
U a disap
1904 H. JENNF.R Cornish Lang. xiii. 154 Cornish
pointing language in respect of swear-words.
Forms:
auet,
(8 Sc.}
4,
4
(swet),
MORE Pamirs
Sweat
sl>.
sweet, 4-6 swete, suete, swett(e, 4-7 swet, (5
suett, squete), 5-7 Sc. sweit, (6 swetth, Sc.
[ME. swet, swett,
sueit), 6-7 sweate,6- sweat,
alteration of stvot(e (see SWOTK) after swett, SWEAT
v. First exemplified from northern texts, in which
close and open e rimed together as early as the
hence, on the one hand, swet
fourteenth century
tury
and bete (OL. betari) on the other,
ft
(OE. ftf)
feit
feit (OK.
:
;
%
swet
.
.
WALKER Vind. Cameron
this
I. 248 We have the Parallel Case in Scotland
Day, putting the Swearing Ministers in Place of the Acluthe
it.
i.
Saw
Jr.
Rev.
vi,
1837 CAKLYLE
ally- indulged.
Sun ever such a swearing people? 1855 MACAUI.AY Htst.
were
as
The
called,
swearing clergy,
they
Eng. xiv. 111. 447
were not a little perplexed by this reasoning.
2. That utters a profane oath ; given to profane
(1827)
Rev. n.
uses profane oaths
it
mo parteneres of play of londe by ry,t.
J7I2 PKIDEAUX Direct. Ch. wardens (ed. 4) 47 There is a
Writ at Common-Law issuable out of the King s- Bench to
command the Swearing of him. 1863 H. Cox Instil. I. vi.
42 As there is no election of a Speaker, and no general
swearing of members. 1900 \l estt. Gaz. 4 Jan. 7/3 The
swearing-in of the Volunteers at the Guildhall.
;
One who
the use of
;
be for swerynge of
;
2.
a. 18 b].
3. The action of administering an oath, spec, of
Also
admitting a person into office with an oath.
swearing-in: see SVYKAK v. 20.
a 1400 Old Usages Winchester in En$. Gilds (1870) 362
So b*. by fore answere, ne legge non
delay, but ^if hit
Forms 4 sweryar,
sueryar, swerier 4 auerere, 4-5 swerere, 4-6
swerer, 5 swerare, 5-6 swerar, 6 Sc. sweirar, 6swearer. [f. SWEARZJ. + -KK *.] One who swears.
1. One who takes an oath
spec, one who takes
v JUB OB 4
or has taken an oath of allegiance
falso, a juryman = Juttou i. false swearer, one
who swears falsely, or who breaks his oath a
See also NON-SWKABJER.
perjurer.
(title)
HARD
hi>
members of the committee.
Wks.
[.ice
profane oath
bis soule.
1663 DKYUEX Wild Gallant i. ii, He has been
a great fanatic formerly, and now lias got a habit of swearing, that he may Ix; thought a cavalier. 1764 GKAY Jemmy
7*7i //i7n6All the town rings of his swearing and roaring.
1867 SMYTH Sailor s Word-bk. s.v., Habitual swearing was
usually typical of a bad officer.
To
WYCHF
1887
by
by making a charge upon oath. (J.S.
1898 HAMBLEN Gen. Manager s Story \v. 236 The
^1380
agog.
is forbidden by the Word
therefore enacted ..That no person or per>ons
shall fiom henceforth prophanely sweare or cur-,e.
1657 ii
TraHs.Cutttbld.fr Westmordd. Antiq. Soc. {N. S.) XIV.
oath*
of
the
upun the
5 profane
swearinge
189 Convict, .for
tiuth and one
same day (viz.) 3 of them by god, one by
of God, Be
1
Sweard
Swearer (swe Tw).
all
uttering ol a
prophane Swearing and Cursing
forswear, abjure. Obs.
1588 SHAKS. L, L. L. 11, i. 104, I heare your grace li.uh
sworne out Housekeeping.
c.
turn out or expel by an oath.
[of the railroad]..
them
profane language.
1340 Ayenb. 63 Hi ne conne nobing zygge wyb-oute
c 1380 WYCLII- // ks. (1880) 120 Ydel swerynge
zueriynge.
of herte ii bonys of crist.
1500-20 UUM.AK Poems ix. 106,
1
knaw me vicious. Lord,.. In aithis sweiring, leising, and
blaspheming. 154* BOORDK Dyetary vii. (1870) 243 In all
the worlde there is not suche odyble swcai yng as is vsed in
Englande. 1623-4 Act 21 James /, c. 20 For as much as all
22. Swear out. f a. To utter a solemn charge
or challenge in regard to. Also ahsoU Obs.
a 1440 Sir Eglam? 1249 Harowdes of armes swore owt
than. Yf tl: :r be ony gentylman, To make hys body gode.
1575 GASCOIGSE Glasse Govt. \. v, If any gentleman offer you
the least parte of injury, Dicke mu^t be sent for to sweare
f b.
The
2.
:
grct
(
The
life-blood : in phr. to tine, Uavt,
lose the sweat : to lose one s life-blood, die. Obs.
The existence of this use is difficult to account for, since
the sense of blood which belonged to OE. sivdt ;e. g. swat
in ME. SWOTE.
forlxtati) did not survive
c itao Sir Tristr. 3904 His frendc schip wil y fle Our on
Allit. P. C. 364
schafiine swete \rimt To bete].
13, E.
And alle hat lyuyes here-inne (toj lose (e swete. 1375 BARBOt K Bruce Xlll. 32 Sum held on loft, sum tynt the suet
\rimc fell], ? 1400 Morte Arth. 2145 By that swyftelyone
swelt es by-leuede. Ibid. 3360 Many swayne
swarthe
c 1470 HI-NKY
^e swynge has the swells leuede.
I.
f
1.
;
.
/".
J>e
wi^>
38