Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “swore” come from?

swore (Middle English) comes from Middle English sware, from Old English swaru, from Proto-Germanic swarō, from Proto-Indo-European swer- — to ache; to fester; wound; injury.

swore (Middle English): Alternative form of sware

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of sware

Ancestry of “swore”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishswareAlternative form of square; A response to a query...
2Old Englishswaruan oath, vow
3Proto-Germanicswarōa solemn statement or affirmation; oath; vow
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswer-to ache; to fester; wound; injury
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swer- →