swear

English

/swɛə/, /swɛɚ/

verb
Definitions
  • (ambitransitive) To take an oath, to promise.
  • (ambitransitive) To use offensive, profane, or obscene language.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English sweren inherited from Old English swerian (swear, take an oath of office) inherited from *swarjan inherited from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną (swear, speak) derived from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (hum, buzz, fester, cut, whistling, ringing, swear, heavy, ache, resound, protect, pole, guard, stick, serious, speak loudly, speak, ring, grave, hiss, talk, whistle).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*swer-

Gloss

hum, buzz, fester, cut, whistling, ringing, swear, heavy, ache, resound, protect, pole, guard, stick, serious, speak loudly, speak, ring, grave, hiss, talk, whistle

Concept
Semantic Field

Speech and language

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

重

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms