The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word AVOW
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
A
V
O
W
More clues leading to the result AVOW
- Confess to a vice — at first it hurts
- A very old wife's state
- Version of Bible it hurts to acknowledge
- Swear love in a Volkswagen
- It’s a very old wicket, so declare
- Declare anti-evolutionist view of world’s beginnings
- Maintain a very painful expression
- A very ordinary wicket to declare
- Justify what one’s done with eggs on the turn?
- A very old wife making one swear
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "swear" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case swear = avow.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does AVOW mean?
AVOW noun- Avowal
- To declare openly and boldly, as something believed to be right; to own, acknowledge or confess frankly.
- To bind or devote by a vow.
- To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See avowry.