to make a very earnest and solemn
pledge of one's truthfulness,
honesty, etc.; to affirm (something) vigorously. Carried out when making a
declaration or oath, this expression comes from the
action of placing one's
hand on a
Bible or some other
sacred object to outwardly show both a sense of
responsibility and a solemn
pledge to the Supreme Being. Such a practice is followed in some courtrooms where a
witness giving testimony may be sworn to
truth by putting his
hand on a
Bible (or some other
sacred object) and being asked, "Do you swear to tell the
truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the
truth?" Swearing on a
stack of Bibles would serve to
place even more binding
power on one's oath and make it that much stronger.