swear

verb

1. (ambitransitive)To take an oath, to promise intensely, solemnly, and/or with legally binding effect.

   “The knight swore not to return to the palace until he had found the treasure.”

2. (transitive)To take an oath that an assertion is true.

   “The witness swore that the person she had seen running out of the bank was a foot shorter than the accused.”

3. (transitive)To promise intensely that something is true; to strongly assert.

   “I swear I don't know what you're talking about.”

   “My little brother is such a pest, I swear.”

   “The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.”

4. (transitive)To administer an oath to (a person).

   “Let the witness be sworn.”

5. (ambitransitive)To use offensive, profane, or obscene language.

   “An Australian was once appointed on contract, but he swore too much.”

6. (Northern-England, Scotland)To be lazy; rest for a short while during working hours.

noun

1. A swear word.

   “You might think it funny to hear this Kanaka girl come out with a big swear. No such thing. There was no swearing in her — no, nor anger; she was beyond anger, and meant the word simple and serious.”

   “[A]ccording to his kind the man would smile cynically, or look sad, or let out a swear or two.”

2. (Northern-England, Scotland)A lazy time; a short rest during working hours (especially field labour); a siesta.

adj

1. (Northern-England, Scotland)Heavy.
2. (Northern-England, Scotland)Top-heavy; too high.
3. (Northern-England, Scotland)Dull; lazy; slow.

   “Rise up gueedewife, an dinna be sweer, / B'soothan, b'soothan, / An deal yir chirity t' the peer, / An awa b'mony a toon.”

4. (Northern-England, Scotland)Reluctant; unwilling.

   “But faith, to glump ye I'd be sweer / I wish ye luck o' this new year”

   “My father will maybe be a wee sweer to take ye in, but ye maun make your way on him the best gate ye can; he has the best stockit pantry on Teviot head, but a bit of a Laidlaw's fault, complaining aye maist when he has least reason.”

5. (Northern-England, Scotland)Niggardly.

   “For if my Pen shall turn as Sweir's their Purse / I fear this is the last I'll write in Verse”