swear /swɛə/ CET4 TEM4 ( swearing, swore, sworn, swears )

• 1. 

  V-I If someone swears, they use language that is considered to be vulgar or offensive, usually because they are angry. 咒骂

  例：

  It's wrong to swear and shout.

  骂人和喊叫是不对的。

• 2. 

  V-T If you swear to do something, you promise in a serious way that you will do it. 郑重许诺

  例：

  Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us.

  艾伦郑重许诺他会尽其所能帮助我们。

  例：

  We have sworn to fight cruelty wherever we find it.

  我们已郑重许诺，无论在哪儿发现暴行我们都要与其斗争。

• 3. 

  V-T/V-I If you say that you swear that something is true or that you can swear to it, you are saying very firmly that it is true. 发誓 [强调]

  例：

  I swear I've told you all I know.

  我发誓我已经把我所知道的都告诉你了。

  例：

  I swear on all I hold dear that I had nothing to do with this.

  我拿我所在乎的一切发誓我与这件事情无关。

• 4. 

  V-T If someone is sworn to secrecy or is sworn to silence, they promise another person that they will not reveal a secret. 使承诺 (保密) [usu passive]

  例：

  She was bursting to announce the news but was sworn to secrecy.

  她忍不住想要发布这条消息，但发过誓要保密。

• 5. 

  → see also sworn