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Pructus Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

would have sworn

Blinker was displeased. A man of less culture and poise and wealth would have sworn. But Blinker always remembered that he was a gentleman—a thing that no gentleman should do. So he merely looked bored and sardonic while he rode in a hansom to the center of disturbance, which was the Broadway office of Lawyer Oldport, who was agent for the Blinker estate.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Brickdust_Row

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From Brickdust Row by O. Henry.

The underlined part, does it mean that "A man of less culture and poise and wealth would have sworn that Blinker was displeased."?
  

Top answer

Hi, My understanding: if Blinker had been a man of less culture and poise and wealth, he would have sworn. However, since he was a gentleman, he didn't swear although he was displeased. Instead, he just looked bored and sardonic ...

— Tanit

  • Hi, My understanding: if Blinker had been a man of less culture and poise and wealth, he would have sworn.
  • However, since he was a gentleman, he didn't swear although he was displeased.
  • Instead, he just looked bored and sardonic ...
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3 Answers
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Hi,

My understanding: if Blinker had been a man of less culture and poise and wealth, he would have sworn. However, since he was a gentleman, he didn't swear although he was displeased. Instead, he just looked bored and sardonic ...
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I understand what you mean.....

I see...

I assumed that the word "swear" meant "to make a solemn promise", but now I see it means "to use profane oaths; curse".

Thanks, Tanit !!
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it ALSO means "to use profane oaths; curse".
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