Uttering an oath is a solemn promise made with an invocation of divine punishment if the promise is broken. It is often done in a formal setting, such as a court of law, or when making a vow to a deity. The two words used to describe this action in a crossword puzzle are 'CURSE' and 'SWEAR'. To CURSE is to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm upon someone or something, while to SWEAR is to make a solemn promise.