A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Swering, Sweiring, Swearing, vbl. n. Also: sweringe, -yng, suering, sweirryng, sueiring, suearing, suaring, suiring. [ME and e.m.E. sueriingge (c1200), sweryng (Manning), swearyng (1542); Swer(e v.]
1. The action of taking an oath; oath-taking.Cf. Maneswering vbl. n.14.. Burgh Laws c. 72 (A).
Giff ony man be convickit anis of … fals witnes neuermar salbe herd in suering of atht c1520-c1535 Nisbet Heb. vii 28.
The word of swering [L. sermo jurisjurandi] … ordanit the sonn perfite withoutin end 1533 Bell. Livy I 49/16.
Continuall … divine seruice … fillit all thare myndis with sic religioun & piete, that faith and swering [L. fides ac iusiurandum] gouernit the ciete
b. The action of administering an oath; putting (witnesses, etc.), under oath.14.. Burgh Laws Index (B).
Of ledyng of wytnes & the sweryng 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II 189.
Immediately aftir the chesing and swering of saids personis of assys 1626 Justiciary Cases I 49 (see c below). 1629 Justiciary Cases I 140.
My lord aduocat takis instrumentis of the sueiring of the assyse 1633 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 162.
Vpoun swearing of the inquest the procuratour phiscall askit actis 1645 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 740.
The breiff instrumentis lykwayes taine vpone the sweiring and admissioune of the lynsteris
c. The action of testifying under oath to the truth or validity of something. Also const. to.1625 Justiciary Cases I 21.
That it is ane allegance consisting in fact quhilk is maist propper to be proponit to the inqueist and in sweiring to the relevance of the samyn 1626 Justiciary Cases I 49.
The persewaris takis instrumentis of the sweiring of the assyse as also of the sweiring of the dittay be the said Mairtene Corstorphin 1671 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 298.
[To] give thanks to Jon Stevinsone for suearing the rift of the great bell in the stipill & for sowding & filling up the same rift
2. The uttering of profane oaths or obscenities; the habitual use of bad language.c1490 Porteous Noblenes 176/7 (Asl.).
Fle ewill deidis or reprevable sayng or sweryng c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) ix 106.
I knaw me vicious, Lord, and richt culpable In aithis sweiring, leising, and blaspheming c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 6.
Sweringe c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 14.
Sweirryng 1564–5 Treas. Acc. XI 342.
Lettres of proclamatioun … anent the violatioun of the Saboth day haldand mercattis … and swering 1570–1 St. A. Kirk S. 346.
He, … being accusat … spak heichtlye prowdlye and irreverendlie, wytht grite banning swering and blaspheming the name of God 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 329.
Swering nor bairdrie may he nan abyde a1578 Pitsc. II 133/10.
Bot ȝeit my heart could nocht suffer me to come in the house quhair banning or sueiring was 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 47.
For suppressing of … flyting, banning and swering 1594 Elgin Rec. II 38.
His suearing and banning 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 35.
Thair salbe be no swearing, banning, filthie speking, or vncumlie behaviour in any of the saidis famelies, mekle les on the streittis 1646 Alyth Par. Ch. 77.
The acts against suaring, drinking, and moking of pietie vare read 1648 Cullen Kirk S. Nov.
Compeired Christian Gardner & confessed her swearing 1650 Auchterhouse Ann. 121.
She abused me with her tongue by banning and swearing and cursing, and saying that ‘bee God I leed, limmer’ 1658 Lanark B. Rec. 162.
For hir curseing, suiring by the name of God and craveing the wreath of God to cume upon James Qwhyt and his familie 1699 Penninghame Par. Rec. I 41.
Andrew McBride … being guilty of swearing grossly
