(1)宣(发)誓(promise with a solemn oath)[I，I+prep，T+n，T+that，T+to-inf 无pass]：～before speaking 在发言之前先宣誓;She swore on the Bible/her honour. 她以圣经/自己的名义发誓。～an oath of loyalty/allegiance/eternal love to sb 发誓忠诚/效忠/永远爱某人;He swore his evidence. 他发誓说证词是真实的。～in the court that one's story was true/one would not run into debt again 在法庭上宣誓所说属实/不再负债;He held her close and swore never to forsake her/reveal the secret. 他紧紧抱住她发誓说决不抛弃她/泄露秘密。a sworn statement 宣誓证词;a sworn enemy/opponent 死敌/坚定的反对者;〖同〗assert，promise;

(2)宣誓表示，郑重保证(state，declare or promise very definitely and positively)[无pass：T+n，T+that，T+to-inf]：I've never told before，I～it. 我郑重表示我以前从未说过此事。He swore the worthless stones to be real diamonds. 她发誓说这些毫无价值的石头是真正的钻石。I could have sworn she was here a minute ago. 我可以肯定一分钟前她还在这儿。～to obey the order 郑重表示遵从命令;He swore blind (infml) that he had not taken the paper. 他肯定地说他没拿走文件。

(3)诅咒(curse)[I，I+prep (at)]：The boy～s like a trooper. 男孩总是破口大骂。Don't～in front of children. 不要在孩子面前说脏话。The manager swore at the office boy (who dropped some ink on the ledger). 经理大骂(把墨水洒在账簿上的)勤杂工。I overheard one of the dissatisfied spectators～ing about the referee/the wretched weather. 我隐约听到一位不满的观众在诅咒裁判员/倒霉的天气。〖同〗curse;

(4)起誓证实(某事)以反对(某人)(affirm earnestly and with great conviction)[T+n，T+n+ prep (against)]：～a charge 起誓指控属实;～an accusation against sb 起誓对某人的控告属实;

(5)使宣誓，以誓言约束(bind by means of an oath)[T+n+prep (to)]：He swore them to silence. 他要他们发誓守口如瓶。Everyone connected with the project was sworn to secrecy. 要求凡与这个工程有关的人都要保守秘密。

swear by (v prep) 1)以……发誓(担保)(vt)：John swore by his honour/God that he is completely innocent. 约翰以自己的声誉/上帝的名义发誓说他是无辜的。2)信赖(vt)(infml)：I～by anything he says/strictness for discipline/that firm. 我相信他说的任何话/我主张纪律严明/我信赖那家公司。She～s by aspirin. 她主张用阿斯匹林。

swear in (v adv)使宣誓就职(vt，尤pass)：At the inauguration，the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swore in the new president. 就职典礼上，最高法院的首席法官让新总统宣誓就职。The new member was sworn in by the chairman. 主席要求新成员宣誓就职。

swear off (v prep)保证戒掉(vt)(infml)：He has sworn off drinking/cigarette/candy on doctor's orders. 他遵医嘱已经发誓要戒酒/烟/糖果。

swear to (v prep)发誓……，坚持说(vt) (infml)：I think I locked the document in the safe，but I couldn't～to it. 我觉得是把文件锁在保险柜里了，但我不能保证。Can you～to his having been in your house that evening? 你能发誓那天晚上他到过你的房间吗?

→′swearer n 发誓者;′swear-word 诅咒语;

【辨异】swear与curse的区别见CURSE。