German word

beschwören

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈʃvøːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbswear

Example

Er beschwört seine Unschuld.

He swears that he is innocent.

Illustration for beschwören (swear)

More examples

Die Zeugin beschwört vor Gericht die Wahrheit ihrer Aussage.

The witness swears in court to the truth of her statement.

Core concept

An urgent voice treats speech as a binding force that can establish truth, beg for action, or call something near.

Common phrases

  • seine Unschuld beschwören

    swear to his innocence

  • etwas beschwören

    swear to something

  • öffentlich beschwören

    publicly swear

Similar words

beteuern: To insist repeatedly and emphatically on one's innocence or the truth.
versichern: To reassure someone by affirming that a promise will be kept or a fact is accurate.
behaupten: To state a fact or opinion firmly, whether or not evidence supports it.

Definition in German

mit Nachdruck etwas als wahr beteuern oder versichern, oft um die eigene Unschuld oder Glaubwürdigkeit zu betonen

Word origin

Beschwören is formed with be- from schwören 'to swear', linking its meanings of solemn assurance, urgent pleading, and summoning to an oath.

Usage tips

  • With a person as object, jemanden beschwören means to implore that person; with a thing or spirit, the verb can mean to invoke or summon it.

Other meanings

  • imploreverb
  • summonverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Beschwörungappealnoun
  • beschwörerischimploringadjective

Word lists with this word