oath

American  

[ohth] / oʊθ /

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.

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idioms

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

oath British  

/ 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

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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

Starr said he is working with the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office to explore legal avenues to remove Lopez from office, including by proving he committed a felony or betrayed his oath of office.

From Los Angeles Times

"I have said it before and I'll say it again: I am not a poisoner... I have always upheld the Hippocratic oath," he stated.

From BBC

The senator then asked Carr whether he remembered his oath of office.

From Los Angeles Times

But then, just two days before she was to take her oath on 3 December, the US government abruptly cancelled it.

From BBC

Criteria can drift from sustained findings of lying under oath to broad categories like “bias” or “integrity concerns,” sometimes based on unsustained complaints or internal politics.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• affidavit
• deposition
• pledge
• testimony
• vow