The word "Sware" is often spelled as "swore" due to the English language's irregularities in pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of "sware" is /swɛər/, which represents the sounds "sw" as in "swim", "ɛə" as the "air" sound in "stare", and the final "r" sound. However, the common pronunciation of "swore" as /swɔr/ can cause confusion in spelling. Nonetheless, both spellings are acceptable and convey the same meaning, which is the past tense of "swear".
"Sware" is a nonstandard and archaic past tense form of the verb "swear." The word "swear" typically refers to the act of making a solemn declaration or affirmation, often invoking a higher power as a witness. It can also refer to using profane or offensive language or making a promise or vow.
In its archaic form, "sware" is the past tense version of "swear," indicating that the act of swearing has already occurred. This past tense form is no longer in common use in modern English but is occasionally found in older texts or poetic language.
The term "sware" can also be seen as a variation of the past participle "sworn" when used in certain contexts, especially in older or literary works.
For example, one might encounter the phrase "I sware on my life" in old literature, which means "I previously made a solemn oath using my life as a guarantee."
It is important to note that "sware" should not be used in formal or contemporary writing, as it is considered obsolete and may not be widely understood. Instead, the standard past tense form "swore" or the present perfect form "have sworn" is recommended.
• of Swear
• The old pt. of the verb swear, which see.
• Did swear.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "sware" is the past tense of the verb "swear". The etymology of "swear" traces back to the Old English word "swerian", which means "to promise, pledge, or take an oath". In Old English, the verb was spelled "swerian", and it eventually evolved into "swere" in Middle English. The past tense form "swere" underwent further changes in pronunciation and spelling over time, becoming "sworn" in Modern English. However, "sware" still exists as an alternative past tense form, particularly in certain dialects or archaic usage.