Refine this word faster
Swearing
noun, verb
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of swearing, or making an oath. countable, uncountable
"No man is believed a jot the more for all the asseverations, damnings, and swearings he makes."
- 2 a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of law); to lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury wordnet
- 3 profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of swear form-of, gerund, participle, present
"Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself."
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English sweryng; equivalent to swear + -ing.
Etymology 2
From Middle English sweryng; equivalent to swear + -ing.
See also for "swearing"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: swearing