Middle English Dictionary Entry
swērer(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | swērer(e n. Also (error) swere; pl. swereres, etc. & (error) sweres. |
| Etymology | From swēren v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who swears a legal oath; ~ of assise, one who gives sworn evidence in civil court; fals ~; (b) one who swears wrongfully or curses, a blasphemer; gret ~, one who habitually uses profanity; (c) a juror; (d) one who administers legal oaths.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Glo.Chron.A (Add 19677)8833 : Sweryars [vr. sueryars; B: sweriers; vr. sweres; A (Clg): He..out drou..false serians of assise].
- ?1403 Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.306a : Al conspiratours or fals suerers in assises or in any other courte.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)242 : He be..a meyntenour of wrongis at louedaies, a fals suerere, [etc.].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)483 : Swerare, þat ofte ys forswore: Labro.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)376/279 : Fals swerars shall hider com.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)689 : He is..Sweriare and of manie word, and fol of lecherie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.593 : Euery greet swerere [vr. swere], nat compelled lawefully to swere, the wounde shal nat departe from his hous whil he vseth swich vnleueful sweryng.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)79/4 : Ȝif he be a gret swerere and a scherew, folewinge his maners, þei seien, 'He schal be a man, for he liche his fadur is.'
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)245/8 : Sche spak boldly..a-geyn swerars, bannars, lyars, & swech oþer viciows pepil.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)99/26 : Almyghty God conpleyneþ hym of þise grett swerers be þe holy profhete.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.227 : Swyche comoun swererys louyn nout her God.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)229/34 : Scho..ys a claterer, a ianguler, a flyter, a curser, a swerer, and a skold.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)702 : Bolde blasphemers..abhomynable swerers..These were the comons came thedyr that day.
- -?-(1474) Ordin.Househ.Pr.Edw.32* : If any man be a customable swearer..he falleth into perdycion after his degree.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)482 : Swerare: Jurator, juratrix.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.5.1 : Ȝyf alife synne & here þe voys off a swerere [L iurantis]..bote ȝif he shewe, he shal bere his wikkednesse.