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Definition 2024

sweer

sweer

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

sweer ‎(comparative more sweer, superlative most sweer)

  1. (Britain dialectal) Heavy.
  2. (Britain dialectal) Dull; indolent; lazy.
  3. (Britain dialectal) Reluctant; unwilling; disinclined.

Anagrams

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch zweren, from Middle Dutch sweren, from Old Dutch *swerien, sweren, from Proto-Germanic *swarjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *swer-.

Verb

sweer ‎(present sweer, present participle swerende, past participle gesweer)

  1. to swear

Scots

Alternative forms

Etymology

Old English swǣr. Cognate with West Frisian swier, Dutch zwaar, German schwer, Swedish svår.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /swir/

Adjective

sweer ‎(comparative mair sweer, superlative maist sweer)

  1. reluctant, unwilling
  2. sad, depressed
  3. lazy
  4. depressing

Related terms

Quotations

  • 2000, The flouer's bonniness minded him o cantier times but the rose itsel wis mingin wi sweir connotations. But n Ben A-Go-Go p.6

Etymology

From Middle English swer, sware, from Old English swǣr, swār ‎(“heavy, of great weight, oppressive, grievous, painful, unpleasant, great, sad, feeling or expressing grief, grave, slow, dull, sluggish, slothful, indolent, inactive from weakness, enfeebled, weak”), from Proto-Germanic *swēraz, *swērijaz ‎(“heavy”), from Proto-Indo-European *swēr- ‎(“heavy”). Cognate with West Frisian swier ‎(“heavy, burdensome, onerous, pregnant”), Dutch zwaar ‎(“heavy, hard, difficult”), German schwer ‎(“difficult, hard, heavy”), Swedish svår ‎(“hard, severe, difficult, heavy”), Latin sērius ‎(“earnest, serious”), Lithuanian svarus ‎(“heavy”), Albanian var ‎(“to hang, burden, annoy”), Ancient Greek ἕρμα ‎(hérma, “prop, foundation, reef, hill”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /swɪə/

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