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would have sworn

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pructus  #536883  Sat, 05 Jul 08 05:50 AM
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."?
  
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Tanit  #536898  Sat, 05 Jul 08 08:06 AM
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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pructus  #536924  Sat, 05 Jul 08 09:36 AM
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 !!
  
Marius Hancu  #536952  Sat, 05 Jul 08 12:15 PM
  it ALSO means "to use profane oaths; curse".
  
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