▪ I. † sware, n. Obs.
Also 4 suar, suare, swar.
[Partly OE. *swaru, in andswaru answer n., mánswaru perjury (cf. manswear); partly a. ON. svar answer: f. root swar- (see swear v.). Cf. next.]
1. Swearing; an oath.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 163 Curs, and leasinges, and sware, and alle swikele speches. c 1250 Hymn to God 35 in Trin. Coll. Hom. App. 259 Mid wicke speche & false sware. c 1275 Lay. 10893 Þo was wo Coel..þat he sahtnesse mid sware [c 1205 treoðe] hadde ifastned. a 1327 Pol. Songs (Camden) 247 Y charge ou by oure sware, That ȝe to Engelonde be trewe. a 1400 Pauline Epistles Gal. iii. 17 Þis..testament confermyd of god þurgh sware. c 1430 Freemasonry 257 Ny no fals sware sofre hem to make. |
2. Answer, reply.
| c 1200 Ormin 2422 Whi ȝaff ȝho swillc anndswere onnȝæn?.. Nu wile I shæwenn ȝuw forrwhi Ȝho ȝaff swillc sware onnȝæness. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 1184 Þe bischop..Gase him doun..Swiftly to þe swiars & þam his sware ȝeldis. |
3. Saying, speech, word.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 17819 (Cott.) Þai hailsed þaim wit suetli suar. c 1325 Metr. Hom. 17 Scho wiped his feet wit her hare, And kissed thaim wit suetli suare. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1200 Sum swalt in a swym with-outen sware more. |
▪ II. † sware, v. Obs.
[a. ON. svara, f. root swar- (see swear v.). Cf. prec.]
intr. and trans. To answer.
| c 1200 Ormin 8938 Off þatt he wass full ȝæp & wis To swarenn & to fraȝȝnenn. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1415 Symbales & sonetez sware þe noyse. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2011 He called to his chamberlayn, þat cofly hym swared. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2069 And þai swiftly him sward & swyth þus him tellis. |
▪ III. sware
arch. pa. tense of swear.
▪ IV. sware
obs. f. square, sweer; var. swire Obs.