vow

Meaning

Noun

1. A solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order.
2. A declaration or assertion.
3. (obsolete) A votive offering.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To make a vow; to promise.
2. (transitive) To make a vow regarding (something).
3. To declare publicly that one has made a vow, usually to show one's determination or to announce an act of retaliation.

Synonyms

promise

pledge

oath

swear

take an oath

guarantee

assure

swearer

warrant

give one’s word

undertake

assurance

assert

pray

🛐

resolution

affirm

consecrate

solemn promise

take oath

give an undertaking

prayer

give one’s word to do

aver

agreement

avouch

determination

command

engagement

plight

predicate

protest

reassure

resolve

sacrament

sacrifice

sell

swan

🦢

swear by

swearing

testify

threat

make an oath

underwrite

vote

vouch

wedding

💒

wish

make an agreement

share bed and board

say emphatically

Translations

Gelübde

serment

Schwur

giurare

jurer

voto

όρκος

voto

Eid

giuramento

geloben

gelofte

schwören

vœu

eed

Pronounced as (IPA)

/vaʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: vowe

In summary

Inherited from Middle English vowe, voue, that from Old French vut, in turn from Latin vōtum (“a promise, dedication, vow”), from vovēre (“to promise, vow”). Not related to avow. Doublet of vote.

Sentences

And the murmur lasted longer than a simple vow would have .

Their monastic vows include a vow of celibate chastity .