sweren

Middle Dutch

Etymology 1

From Old Dutch sweren, from Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *swer-.

Verb

swēren

1. to swear, to declare solemnly
2. to swear, to curse

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Alternative forms

• swerren

Descendants

• Dutch: zweren
  • Afrikaans: sweer
  • Negerhollands: sweer
• Limburgish: zwaere

Etymology 2

From Old Dutch *sweran, from Proto-Germanic *sweraną.

Verb

swēren

1. to hurt, to be painful

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Dutch: zweren

Further reading

• “sweren (III)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “sweren (IV)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “sweren (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “sweren (II)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page II

Middle English

Alternative forms

• swerien, swerie, swern, sweryn, zuerie, sweriȝen, swerye, swere, sueren

Etymology

From Old English swerian, from Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną; a cognate of Middle Low German sweren, Old Swedish sværia, Old Danish swæriæ, Middle Dutch swēren, and Middle High German swern.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswɛːrən/, /ˈswɛːriən/

Verb

sweren

1. To swear to do something; to make an oral binding statement.
   1. To swear while laying hands on something as confirmation.
   2. To swear by using a deity or divinity as witness.
   3. To swear to remain truthful, honest and trustworthy.
   4. To swear to adhere or remain faithful to a given person.
   5. (rare) To give approval or permission by swearing.
2. To give witness in a legal or judicial context.
3. To curse; to utter swearwords (especially as part of a promise)
4. To approve or affirm an oral binding statement.
5. To form a conspiracy or secret pact; to effect covertly.
6. To make a decisive and important statement or claim.
7. (rare) To claim or exclaim; to state.
8. (rare) To lay the foundation for a religion.

Usage notes

Occasional weak forms are also found throughout the Middle English period.

Conjugation

Conjugation of sweren (strong class 6/4)

infinitive	(to) sweren, swere
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	swere	swor, swar
2nd-person singular	swerest	swore, sware, swor, swar
3rd-person singular	swereth	swor, swar
subjunctive singular	swere	swore1, sware1
imperative singular		—
plural2	sweren, swere	sworen, swore, swaren, sware
imperative plural	swereth, swere	—
participles	swerynge, swerende	sworen, swore, sworn, ysworen, yswore, ysworn

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• forsweren
• swerer
• sweryng

Descendants

• English: swear
• Scots: swer, swere, sweir

References

• “swēren, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-12-3.

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną.

Verb

sweren

1. to swear (an oath)

Conjugation

Conjugation of sweren (strong class 6 j-present)

infinitive	sweren
indicative	present	past
1st person singular	swero, sweron	swuor
2nd person singular	sweris, swerist	swuori, swuoris
3rd person singular	swerit	swuor
1st person plural	sweren	swuorun
2nd person plural	sweret	swuorut
3rd person plural	swerent	swuorun
subjunctive	present	past
1st person singular	swere	swuori
2nd person singular	sweres, swerest	swuori, swuoris
3rd person singular	swere	swuori
1st person plural	sweren	swuorin
2nd person plural	sweret	swuorit
3rd person plural	sweren	swuorin
imperative	present
singular	sweri
plural	sweret
participle	present	past
	swerendi	swaran, giswaran

Derived terms

• bisweren

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: swēren, swerren
  • Dutch: zweren
    • Afrikaans: sweer
    • Negerhollands: sweer
  • Limburgish: zwaere

Further reading

• “sweren”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Old High German

Alternative forms

• swerien, swerren

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną, whence also Old Saxon swerian, Old English swerian, Old Norse sverja, Gothic 𐍃𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌽 (swaran). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *swer-.

Verb

sweren

1. to swear

Descendants

• Middle High German: swern
  • Alemannic German: schwere
  • German: schwören
  • Luxembourgish: schwieren