oath
Americannoun
PLURAL
oaths-
a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing, to witness one's determination to speak the truth, to keep a promise, etc..
to testify upon oath.
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a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.
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a formally affirmed statement or promise accepted as an equivalent of an appeal to a deity or to a revered person or thing; affirmation.
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the form of words in which such a statement or promise is made.
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an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or anything sacred.
- Synonyms:
- profanity
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any profane expression; curse; swear word.
He slammed the door with a muttered oath.
idioms
noun
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a solemn pronouncement to affirm the truth of a statement or to pledge a person to some course of action, often involving a sacred being or object as witness
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the form of such a pronouncement
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an irreverent or blasphemous expression, esp one involving the name of a deity; curse
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under the obligation of an oath
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law having sworn to tell the truth, usually with one's hand on the Bible
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to declare formally with an oath or pledge, esp before giving evidence
Etymology
Origin of oath
First recorded before 900; Middle English oth, Old English āth; cognate with Gothic aiths, Old Norse eidhr, German Eid
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Doctors took an oath to help, not hinder a person. Who a person is is none of your business,” contended Kathy Stomber.
From Salon
He took the oath on Thursday, in brief and muted proceedings in the army headquarters.
From BBC
"I have just been sworn in to lead the High Command," General Horta N'Tam declared after taking the oath of office in a ceremony at the military's headquarters, AFP journalists observed.
From Barron's
Federal officials, including the president’s Cabinet and members of Congress, all swore an oath to follow the Constitution and protect the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
From Salon
When I was 22 years old, I commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and swore an oath to the Constitution.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
