oath

[ohth]

noun

plural

oaths 

1. 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.

2. a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.

   Synonyms: pledge, vow

3. a formally affirmed statement or promise accepted as an equivalent of an appeal to a deity or to a revered person or thing; affirmation.

4. the form of words in which such a statement or promise is made.

5. an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or anything sacred.

   Synonyms: profanity

6. any profane expression; curse; swear word.

   He slammed the door with a muttered oath.

oath

/ əʊθ /

noun

1. 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

2. the form of such a pronouncement

3. an irreverent or blasphemous expression, esp one involving the name of a deity; curse

4. 1. under the obligation of an oath

   2. law having sworn to tell the truth, usually with one's hand on the Bible

5. to declare formally with an oath or pledge, esp before giving evidence

Word History and Origins

Origin of oath¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English oth, Old English āth; cognate with Gothic aiths, Old Norse eidhr, German Eid

Word History and Origins

Origin of oath¹

Old English āth; related to Old Saxon, Old Frisian ēth, Old High German eid

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take an oath, to swear solemnly; vow.

Example Sentences

Public servants who lived up to their oaths of office losing their careers or being charged with crimes at the behest of a man convicted of numerous felonies.

Read more on Salon

In exchange for a sentence of 25 years to life, he admitted to murdering Franco and revealed all he knew about the crime under oath.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Comey’s son-in-law, Troy A. Edwards Jr., a federal prosecutor in the same office where Halligan now works, resigned immediately, stating he was leaving “to uphold my oath to the Constitution.”

Read more on Salon

“Federal funding for universities should never depend on a loyalty oath,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a resignation letter addressed to Halligan, Edwards wrote he was stepping down to “uphold my oath to the Constitution and country.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• affidavit 
• deposition 
• pledge 
• testimony 
• vow