swerian

Old English

Alternative forms

• swarian

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to protect, to guard”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswer.jɑn/, [ˈswerˠ.jɑn]

Verb

swerian

1. to swear (an oath or a promise)

Usage notes

• A weak past tense swerede also occurs.

Conjugation

Conjugation of swerian (strong class 6)

infinitive	swerian	swerienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	swerie	swōr
second person singular	swerest	swōre
third person singular	swereþ	swōr
plural	sweriaþ	swōron
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	swerie	swōre
plural	swerien	swōren
imperative
singular	swere
plural	sweriaþ
participle	present	past
	sweriende	(ġe)sworen

Derived terms

• forswerian
• ġeswerian
• mānswerian
• swara

Descendants

• Middle English: swerien, sweren
  • English: swear
  • Scots: swer, swere, sweir

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *swarjan, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to protect, to guard”).

Verb

swerian

1. to swear

Conjugation

Conjugation of swerian (strong class 6)

infinitive	swerian
indicative	present	past
1st person singular	sweru	swōr
2nd person singular	sweris	swōri
3rd person singular	swerid	swōr
plural	sweriad	swōrun
subjunctive	present	past
1st person singular	swerie	swōri
2nd person singular	sweries	swōris
3rd person singular	swerie	swōri
plural	swerien	swōrin
imperative	present
singular	sweri
plural	sweriad
participle	present	past
	swerandi	gisworan, sworan

Descendants

• Middle Low German: sweren
  • Low German: swören, sweren