◙ (past swore ; past participle sworn ) 1. [reporting verb] make a solemn statement or promise undertaking to do something or affirming that something is the case • 发誓；保证 »[with clause] Maria made me swear I would never tell anyone. 玛丽亚让我起誓永远都不会告诉任何人。 »I swear by all I hold dear that I had nothing to do with it. 我以我所有最珍贵的东西起誓我和这件事情毫无关联。 »[with infinitive] he swore to obey the rules. 他保证会遵守规则。 »[with direct speech] ‘Never again,’ she swore, ‘will I be short of money’. 她发誓说：“我永远都不会再缺钱了”。 »[with obj.] they were reluctant to swear allegiance. 他们不情愿地发誓效忠。 [with obj.] take (an oath) • 宣誓 »he forced them to swear an oath of loyalty to him. 他强迫他们宣誓要对他效忠。 [with obj.] take a solemn oath as to the truth of (a statement) • 宣誓保证（说的是真话） »I asked him if he would swear a statement to this effect. 我问他是否愿意发誓作出大意如此的声明。 [with obj.] (swear someone in)admit someone to a particular office or position by directing them to take a formal oath • 宣誓就职 »he was sworn in as president on 10 July. 他于7月10号宣誓就任总统。 [with obj.] make (someone) promise to observe a certain course of action • 使宣誓，命…宣誓；以誓言约束 »I've been sworn to secrecy. 我已经起誓要保守秘密。 [no obj., usu. with negative] (swear to)express one's assurance that something is the case • 保证…确定无疑 »I couldn't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure it's his writing. 我不能保证，但我相当肯定这是他的笔迹。 [no obj.] (swear off)[informal] promise to abstain from • [非正式] 保证戒掉 »I'd sworn off alcohol. 我已保证戒酒。 [no obj.] (swear by)[informal] have or express great confidence in the use, value, or effectiveness of • [非正式] 极其信赖；推荐 »Iris swears by her yoga. 艾里斯极其相信瑜珈。 2. [no obj.] use offensive language, especially as an expression of anger • 诅咒；咒骂 »Peter swore under his breath. 彼得低声骂了一句。
【IDIOMS】
◘ swear blind (或北美 1. [Brit. informal] affirm something emphatically • [英，非正式] 断定，一口咬定 »his informant swore blind that the weapons were still there. 他的线人一口咬定说武器还在那里。
【派生】
♦ swearer noun
【语源】
1. Old English swerian of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zweren, German schwören, also to answer
【PHR V】
◘ swear something out 1. [US Law] obtain the issue of (a warrant for arrest) by making a charge on oath • [美律] 经宣誓保证所控属实后发给（拘捕证）