Swearer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who solemnly promises or affirms to do or uphold something ; a person who frequently uses offensive or rude words
2. Someone who pledges or vows seriously to fulfill an obligation or tell the truth ; one who habitually utters curse words or vulgar expressions
3. A person bound by an oath to perform duties or speak truthfully ; an individual known for regularly using strong or obscene language

Etymology: "Swearer" is a plain formation: the verb "swear" with the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who swears. The verb itself is very old in English, and the noun has been built on it since the Middle English period, when the form "swerere" was in use. The word has two distinct senses, and they reflect the two things swearing once meant. The first is the solemn oath: a swearer is someone who binds themselves formally to a promise or to telling the truth, the sense that survives in legal and courtroom settings. The second, which is more common today, is the profane speaker, someone who habitually uses curses or vulgar language. The gap between these meanings is narrower than it looks, since both come from the same verb, and "swear" in its oath sense and its profanity sense grew from one root.

Synonyms: oath-taker, vow maker