vow
[vou]
- a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment: marriage vows; a vow of secrecy.
- a solemn promise made to a deity or saint committing oneself to an act, service, or condition.
- a solemn or earnest declaration.
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- to make a vow of; promise by a vow, as to God or a saint: to vow a crusade or a pilgrimage.
- to pledge or resolve solemnly to do, make, give, observe, etc.: They vowed revenge.
- to declare solemnly or earnestly; assert emphatically (often followed by a clause as object): She vowed that she would take the matter to court.
- to dedicate or devote by a vow: to vow oneself to the service of God.
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- to make a vow.
- to make a solemn or earnest declaration.
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- take vows, to enter a religious order or house.
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Origin of vow
1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French vo(u) < Latin vōtum, neuter of vōtus, past participle of vovēre to vow
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vowed
Contemporary Examples
Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
She vowed to repay the money—no official word, however, on whether she ever did that.
Bohac vowed to that when he came back next year there would be no confusion about any Christmas tree or Santa aprons.
So was the importance of protest itself, which he vowed to protect from the heavy-handed policies employed by his predecessors.
The company lawyer promised to deliver the RFI to executives and vowed to help schedule a meeting.
Historical Examples
I kneel not, repenting of what I have vowed in such a case as that I have supposed.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
On the death of his countess, Foulques vowed to go on a crusade.
Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward IICharlotte Mary Yonge
He lifted a hand to Heaven and vowed solemnly: "Never again!"
The Fortune HunterLouis Joseph Vance
I have no thought, no ambition, no sentiment that is not vowed to her.
Alice, or The Mysteries, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Besides, had he not vowed in all charity that he would not wound anyone with his doubts?
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
vow
- a solemn or earnest pledge or promise binding the person making it to perform a specified act or behave in a certain way
- a solemn promise made to a deity or saint, by which the promiser pledges himself to some future act, course of action, or way of life
- take vows to enter a religious order and commit oneself to its rule of life by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which may be taken for a limited period as simple vows or as a perpetual and still more solemn commitment as solemn vows
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- (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to pledge, promise, or undertake solemnlyhe vowed that he would continue; he vowed to return
- (tr) to dedicate or consecrate to God, a deity, or a saint
- (tr; usually takes a clause as object) to assert or swear emphatically
- (intr) archaic to declare solemnly
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French vou, from Latin vōtum a solemn promise, from vovēre to vow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for vowed
vow
v.
c.1300, from Old French vouer, from vou (see vow (n.)). Related: Vowed; vowing.
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vow
n.
c.1300, from Anglo-French and Old French vou, from Latin votum "a vow, wish, promise, dedication," noun use of neuter of votus, past participle of vovere "to promise solemnly, pledge, dedicate, vow," from PIE root *ewegwh- "to speak solemnly, vow" (cf. Sanskrit vaghat- "one who offers a sacrifice;" Greek eukhe "vow, wish," eukhomai "I pray").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper