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Covenant vs Swear - What's the difference?

covenant | swear |

As nouns the difference between covenant and swear

is that covenant is an agreement to do or not do a particular thing while swear is a swearword.

As verbs the difference between covenant and swear

is that covenant is to enter into, or promise something by, a covenant while swear is to take an oath.

As an adjective swear is

heavy.

covenant

Alternative forms

* covenaunt (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (legal) An agreement to do or not do a particular thing.
  • (legal) A promise, incidental to a deed or contract, either express or implied.
  • A pact or binding agreement between two or more parties.
  • An incidental clause in an agreement.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • to enter into, or promise something by, a covenant
  • * L'Estrange
  • Jupiter covenanted with him, that it should be hot or cold, wet or dry, as the tenant should direct.
  • * Bible, Matthew xxvi. 15
  • and they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver
  • (legal) To enter a formal agreement.
  • (legal) To bind oneself in contract.
  • (legal) To make a stipulation.
  • swear

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) sweren, swerien, from (etyl) through Proto-Indo-European.

    Verb

  • To take an oath.
  • *
  • *:The Bat—they called him the Bat.. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
  • (lb) To use offensive language.
  • Synonyms
    * See also
    Usage notes
    * In sense 1, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See
    Synonyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * swear by * swear like a trooper * swear on a stack of Bibles * swear out * swear to God * swear word

    Etymology 2

    From the above verb, or from (etyl) sware, from (etyl) swaru, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A swearword.
  • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) swer, swar, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Heavy.
  • Top-heavy; too high.
  • Dull; heavy; lazy; slow; reluctant; unwilling.
  • Niggardly.
  • A lazy time; a short rest during working hours (especially field labour); a siesta.
  • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be lazy; rest for a short while during working hours.