/sweə(r); swɛr/
v (pt swore / swR:(r); swRr/, pp sworn / swR:n; swRrn/)
1 [I, Ipr] ~ (at sb/sth) use rude or blasphemous words in anger, surprise, etc; curse 咒骂, 诅咒
*She bumped her head in the doorway and swore loudly. 她的头撞到门框上, 大骂了一声.
* The foreman is always swearing at the workers. 那工头总是对工人骂骂咧咧.
2 [no passive 不用于被动语态
*Tn, Tf, Tt] say or promise (sth) very seriously, definitely or solemnly 极其认真、明确或郑重地说或允诺（某事）
*I've never seen him before, I swear it. 我以前从未见过他, 我说的是实话.
* She swore that she'd never seen him. 她肯定地说, 她从未见过他.
* I could have sworn (ie I was certain) I heard a knock at the door. 我千真万确听到了敲门声.
* I swore not to tell anybody about it. 我保证不把这事告诉任何人.
3 [I, Ipr, Tn, Tf, Tt no passive不用于被动语态] (cause sb to) make a solemn promise or statement about (sth) （使某人）就（某事物）宣誓
*Witnesses have to swear on the bible (to tell the truth). 证人须手按《圣经》宣誓（说实话）.
* They have sworn (an oath of) allegiance to the crown. 他们宣誓效忠君主.
* Has the jury been sworn (ie officially appointed by taking an oath)? 陪审团宣誓了吗?
* Are you willing to swear in court that you saw him do it? 你愿意在法庭上宣誓说你曾看见他做那件事了吗?
4 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (against sb) make (a statement) promising officially that it is true 宣誓承认（某一陈述）属实
*swear an accusation/a charge against sb 宣誓保证指控某人的内容属实.
5 (idm 习语) swear `blind (infml 口) say definitely 一口咬定
*She swore blind that she had not taken the money. 她一口咬定说她没有拿那笔钱. swear like a `trooper use very obscene or blasphemous language 破口大骂. swear sb to `secrecy make sb promise to keep a secret 使某人发誓保守秘密
*I swore her to secrecy about what I had told her. 我要她起誓对我告诉她的事保守秘密.
6 (phr v) swear by sb/sth
(a) name sb/sth as a guarantee of what one is promising 以某人[某事物]之名义起誓
*I swear by almighty God that I will tell the truth. 我对全能的上帝起誓我一定说实话.
(b) (infml 口) believe greatly in the usefulness or value of sth (and use it constantly) 极其信赖（并经常使用）某事物
*Many of my friends are using word processors but I still swear by my old typewriter. 我有许多朋友都使用文字处理机, 可我还是爱用我的老式打字机. swear sb in (esp passive 尤用于被动语态) introduce sb officially or ceremonially to a new position, responsibility, etc by getting him to swear an oath 使某人宣誓就职
*The President has to be sworn in publicly. 总统必须当众宣誓就职.
* Let the witness be sworn in. 让证人宣誓作证. swear off sth (infml 口) declare that one will stop using sth 宣布停用某事物
*I've decided to swear off smoking. 我已宣布戒烟了. swear to sth (infml 口) say definitely that sth is true 断言某事物为实; 肯定某事物
*I think I've met him before, but I wouldn't swear to it, ie I'm not sure. 我好像见过他, 只是不敢肯定.

v past tenseswore [swɔː (US) swɔːr/