swear off


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Related to swear off: declare under oath

swear

 (swâr)
v. swore (swôr), sworn (swôrn), swear·ing, swears
v.intr.
1. To make a solemn declaration, invoking a deity or a sacred person or thing, in confirmation of and witness to the honesty or truth of such a declaration.
2. To make a solemn promise; vow.
3. To use obscene or blasphemous language; curse.
4. Law To commit oneself by oath to giving evidence or testimony that is truthful.
v.tr.
1.
a. To declare or affirm solemnly by invoking a deity or a sacred person or thing: swore on the Bible that he would tell the truth.
b. To say or affirm earnestly and with great conviction: I swear that I will pay you back.
2. To promise or pledge with a solemn oath; vow: He swore to do his duty. See Synonyms at promise.
3. To utter or bind oneself to (an oath).
4. Law To administer a legal oath to: All the witnesses have been sworn.
n.
A swearword.
Phrasal Verbs:
swear at
To use vulgar language against; curse:
swear by
1. To have great reliance on or confidence in: He swears by his personal physician.
2. To have reliable knowledge of; be sure of: I think she left early, but I couldn't swear by it.
3. To take an oath by: He swore by all the angels and saints of heaven.
swear in
To administer a legal or official oath to: swear in a mayor.
swear off Informal
To pledge to renounce or give up: She has sworn off cigarettes.
swear out Law
1. To attest to (an affidavit or complaint) by oath.
2. To swear to evidence under oath in order to obtain (a warrant for arrest).
[Middle English sweren, from Old English swerian; see swer- in Indo-European roots.]
swear′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

swear off

vb
(intr, preposition) to promise to abstain from (something): to swear off drink.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.swear off - promise to abstain from; "I have sworn off cigarettes altogether"
promise, assure - make a promise or commitment
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

swear

verb
1. To guarantee by a solemn promise:
covenant, pledge, plight, promise, vow.
Idiom: give one's word of honor.
2. To use profane or obscene language:
blaspheme, curse, damn.
Informal: cuss.
3. To give evidence or testimony under oath:
attest, testify, witness.
Law: depone, depose.
Idioms: bear witness, take the stand.
phrasal verb
swear off
Informal. To cease trying to accomplish or continue:
abandon, break off, desist, discontinue, give up, leave off, quit, relinquish, remit, stop.
Slang: lay off.
Idioms: call it a day, call it quits, hang up one's fiddle, have done with, throw in the towel.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

w>swear off

vi +prep obj (inf) → abschwören (+dat)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
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References in classic literature ?
With respect to their public assemblies, in having them open to all, but in fining the rich only, or others very little, for not attending; with respect to offices, in permitting the poor to swear off, but not granting this indulgence to those who are within the census; with respect to their courts of justice, in fining the rich for non-attendance, but the poor not at all, or those a great deal, and these very little, as was done by the laws of Charondas.
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