Dictionary

vow en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /vaʊ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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.

Meanings

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.
   • The old hermit, up in the mountains, took a vow of silence.
   • And Moses spake vnto the heads of the tribes, concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. If a man vowe a vow vnto the Lord, or sweare an othe to bind his soule with a bond: he shall not breake his word, hee shall doe according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 30:1–2:
2. A declaration or assertion.
   • Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself. 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:
3. (obsolete) A votive offering.
   • There are also waxen vows, that represent other parts of the body mixed with them; but of these there are few in comparison of the number of the Priapi. 1786, Richard Payne Knight, The Worship of Priapus:

Forms

Deriveds

vowmaker · break-vow · vowess · solemn vow · wedding vow · renew one's vows · vowless · take vows · vow of celibacy · exchange vows · vowmaking · marriage vow

Translations (107)

ota سوگند (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · cmn 誓約 /誓约 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · mk заклетва (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · it voto (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · bg кле́тва (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · cmn 誓言 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · es manda (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ru обе́т (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · he נֶדֶר (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ang behāt (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · nb løfte (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · uk клятьба́ (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ka განცხადება (a declaration or assertion) · sh за́клетва (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hi प्रतिज्ञा (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ca vot (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · arz ندر (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ur نَذْر (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · eo voto (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · uga 𐎐𐎄𐎗 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sw nadhiri (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · gl voto (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · fr vœu (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · de Schwur (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · fi vakuutus (a declaration or assertion) · uk прися́га (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · gag emin (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sh при̏сега (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sa व्रत (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · eo ĵuro (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hi वचन (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · be прыся́га (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · lv apsolījums (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sk prísaha (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ja 誓い (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hi प्रण (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · es promesa (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hu fogadalom (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · la vōtum (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · pl przysięga (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · de Gelübde (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · fi lupaus (a declaration or assertion) · fr voeu (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · de Gelöbnis (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · gag söz (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · uk обі́тниця (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sv löfte (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ka ფიცი (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · be заро́к (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ko 맹세 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · de Eid (a declaration or assertion) · uk обі́т (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · cs přísaha (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · el διαβεβαίωση (a declaration or assertion) · fi lupaus (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · io vovo (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · bg обе́т (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · fa-ira نَذْر (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · be кля́тва (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · nan-hbl 愿 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · es voto (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ka აღთქმა (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · grc ὅρκος (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · zdj nadhiri (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · fi vala (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · nl gelofte (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sh zákletva (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · el όρκος (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sl prisega (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · da løfte (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · lt įžadas (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ru завере́ние (a declaration or assertion) · pt bodo (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · fa-ira قُول (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · pl ślub (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · txb wrat (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sh prȉsega (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ru заро́к (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · cmn 保證 /保证 (a declaration or assertion) · de Eid (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · be кляцьба́ (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · vi lời thề (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hy ուխտ (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hi व्रत (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ru кля́тва (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · vi lời nguyền (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ko 서약 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · sk sľub (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hy երդում (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · pt voto (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ota آند (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ru прися́га (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ro jurământ (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ast votu (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · it voto (a declaration or assertion) · uk кля́тва (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · cs slib (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · ru обяза́тельство (a declaration or assertion) · ar نَذْر (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · be абе́тніца (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · tr yemin (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · kk серт (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hi संकल्प (a declaration or assertion) · ja 誓約 (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · nl eed (a declaration or assertion) · et lubadus (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner) · hi मन्नत (a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner)

vow en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /vaʊ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. (ambitransitive) To make a vow; to promise.
   • We do not vow that we will never sin, nor neglect a duty (nor ought we to do so). 1673, Richard Baxter, Christian Directory:
   • When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 5:4:
2. (transitive) To make a vow regarding (something).
   • The wronged woman vowed revenge.
3. To declare publicly that one has made a vow, usually to show one's determination or to announce an act of retaliation.
   • The rebels vowed to continue their fight.

Forms

Deriveds

revow · vower · devow

Relateds

vote (Terms etymologically related to the noun or verb vow) · votive (Terms etymologically related to the noun or verb vow) · devote (Terms etymologically related to the noun or verb vow)

Translations (92)

nb sverge (to make a vow) · sl priseči (to make a vow) · la vōveō (to make a vow) · ru дава́ть обе́т (to make a vow) · hu megfogad (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · lv apsolīt (to make a vow) · ru покля́сться (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · bg закълна́ се (to make a vow) · bg закле́вам се (to make a vow) · bg кълна́ се (to make a vow) · ru обеща́ть (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · cs přísahat (to make a vow) · et lubama (to make a vow) · myv варамс (to make a vow) · nb love (to make a vow) · sl prisegati (to make a vow) · ka აღთქმა (to make a vow) · cmn 宣誓 (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · la iurō (to make a vow) · nl zweren (to make a vow) · ja 誓う (to make a vow) · sh кле̑ти се (to make a vow) · vi tuyên thệ (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · ru кля́сться (to make a vow) · fi vannoa (to make a vow) · ka დაპირება (to make a vow) · ca jurar (to make a vow) · fr jurer (to make a vow) · nan-hbl 下愿 (to make a vow) · de geloben (to make a vow) · ru кля́сться (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · fi vannoa (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · sv svära (to make a vow) · nan-hbl 发愿 (to make a vow) · tr yemin etmek (to make a vow) · es devodar (to make a vow) · ka დაპირება (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · hu megesküszik (to make a vow) · ar نَذَرَ (to make a vow) · ka დაფიცება (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · ru обеща́ть (to make a vow) · da love (to make a vow) · pon kahukihla (to make a vow) · mk колне (to make a vow) · ru присягну́ть (to make a vow) · is strengja heit (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · it giurare (to make a vow) · vi phát nguyện (to make a vow) · uk клясти́ся (to make a vow) · ka დაფიცება (to make a vow) · nn lova (to make a vow) · hu esküszik (to make a vow) · mk заколне (to make a vow) · de schwören (to make a vow) · nn sverja (to make a vow) · fi vakuuttaa (to make a vow) · sk prisahať (to make a vow) · nl gelofte afleggen (to make a vow) · fi luvata (to make a vow) · grc ὄμνυμι (to make a vow) · lt pažadėti (to make a vow) · ca prometre solemnement (to make a vow) · ru присяга́ть (to make a vow) · cmn 發誓 /发誓 (to make a vow) · nn sverje (to make a vow) · uk кля́стися (to make a vow) · io vovar (to make a vow) · hi प्रण (to make a vow) · ka ფიცის დადება (to make a vow) · ru пообеща́ть (to make a vow) · pms voidé (to make a vow) · hu megfogad (to make a vow) · it votare (to make a vow) · ru пообеща́ть (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · tr ant içmek (to make a vow) · da sværge (to make a vow) · sv lova (to make a vow) · sh klȇti se (to make a vow) · is strengja heit (to make a vow) · fi vannoa vala (to make a vow) · be кля́сціся (to make a vow) · okm 벼기다 (to make a vow) · eo ĵuri (to make a vow) · pon kahula (to make a vow) · ko 맹세하다 (to make a vow) · ja 契る (to make a vow) · hu fogad (to make a vow) · be клясці́ся (to make a vow) · hi वचन (to make a vow) · de sich dazu erklärt haben (to declare publicly that one made a vow) · hi प्रतिज्ञा (to make a vow) · ru покля́сться (to make a vow)