I SWAN, intj. (American).—‘I swear!’ Also (more emphatically), ‘I SWAN TO MAN!’

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  1842.  CAROLINE M. KIRKLAND, Forest Life, I. ii. ‘Well! I SWAN!’ exclaimed the mamma, giving a round box on the ear to a dirty little urchin.

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  1862.  J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers, 2 S. i.

        But they du preach, I SWAN TO MAN, it ’s puf’kly indescrib’le!
    Ibid. vi.
They hesh the ground beneath so, tu, I SWAN,
You half-forgit you ’ve gut a body on.

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  1899.  WESTCOTT, David Harum, xiv. ‘You c’n git round on your pins ’bout ’s lively ’s they make ’em, I guess, I SWAN!’ he exclaimed.

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