Vow

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Vow, n. [OE. vou, OF. vou, veu, vo, vu, F. vu, from L. votum, from vovere, to vow. Cf. Avow, Devout, Vote.].

•  A solemn promise made to God, or to some deity; an act by which one consecrates or devotes himself, absolutely or conditionally, wholly or in part, for a longer or shorter time, to some act, service, or condition; a devotion of one's possessions; as, a baptismal vow; a vow of poverty.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow."  [1913 Webster]

  "I am combined by a sacred vow."  [1913 Webster]
•  Specifically, a promise of fidelity; a pledge of love or affection; as, the marriage vow.  [1913 Webster]

  "Knights of love, who never broke their vow;
  Firm to their plighted faith."  [1913 Webster]

Vow, v. t. [OE. vouen, OF. vouer, voer, F. vouer, LL. votare. See Vow, n.].

•  To give, consecrate, or dedicate to God, or to some deity, by a solemn promise; to devote; to promise solemnly.  Eccl. v. 4.  [1913 Webster]

  "[Men] that vow a long and weary pilgrimage."  [1913 Webster]
•  To assert solemnly; to asseverate.  [1913 Webster]

Vow, v. i. 

 To make a vow, or solemn promise.  [1913 Webster]
"Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Vow, n. & v.
--n.
1 Relig. a solemn promise esp. in the form of an oath to God or another deity or to a saint.
2 (in pl.) the promises by which a monk or nun is bound to poverty, chastity, and obedience.
3 a promise of fidelity (lovers' vows; marriage vows).
4 (usu. as baptismal vows) the promises given at baptism by the baptized person or by sponsors.
--v.tr.
1 promise solemnly (vowed obedience).
2 dedicate to a deity.
3 (also absol.) archaic declare solemnly.

Idiom

under a vow having made a vow.

Etymology

ME f. AF v(o)u, OF vo(u), f. L (as VOTE): (v.) f. OF vouer, in sense 2 partly f. AVOW

THESAURUS

Vow

Bible oath, affirm, and candle, assert, assert under oath, asseverate, assurance, assure, attest, avouch, avouchment, avow, book, certify, confess, countersign, covenant, declare, depone, depose, express the belief, extrajudicial oath, faith, guarantee, ironclad oath, judicial oath, kiss the book, loyalty oath, make a promise, oath, oath of allegiance, oath of office, official oath, parole, pledge, plight, profess, promise, solemn declaration, solemn oath, state, swan, swear, swear by bell, swear the truth, swear to, swear to God, swear to goodness, test oath, testify, troth, underwrite, vouch, warrant, warranty, word, word of honor

ROGET THESAURUS

Vow

Promise

N promise, undertaking, word, troth, plight, pledge, parole, word of honor, vow, oath, profession, assurance, warranty, guarantee, insurance, obligation, contract, stipulation, engagement, preengagement, affiance, betroth, betrothal, betrothment, promising, promissory, votive, under hand and seal, upon oath, promised, affianced, pledged, bound, committed, compromised, in for it, as one's head shall answer for, in for a penny in for a pound, ex voto, gage d'amour.

VB promise, give a promise, undertake, engage, make an engagement, form an engagement, enter into an engagement, enter on an engagement, bind oneself, tie oneself, pledge oneself, commit oneself, take upon oneself, vow, swear, give one's word, pass one's word, pledge one's word, plight one's word, give one's honor, pass one's honor, pledge one's honor, plight one's honor, give credit, pass credit, pledge credit, plight credit, give troth, pass troth, pledge troth, plight troth, betroth, plight faith, assure, warrant, guarantee, covenant, attest, hold out an expectation, contract an obligation, become bound to, become sponsor for, answer for, be answerable for, secure, give security, underwrite, adjure, administer an oath, put to one's oath, swear a witness.

Worship

VB worship, lift up the heart, aspire, revere, adore, do service, pay homage, humble oneself, kneel, bow the knee, bend the knee, fall down, fall on one's knees, prostrate oneself, bow down and worship, pray, invoke, supplicate, put up, offer up prayers, offer petitions, beseech, say one's prayers, tell one's beads, return thanks, give thanks, say grace, bless, praise, laud, glorify, magnify, sing praises, give benediction, lead the choir, intone, deacon, deacon off propitiate, offer sacrifice, fast, deny oneself, vow, offer vows, give alms, work out one's salvation, go to church, attend service, attend mass, communicate.

Affirmation

VB assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's Bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call Heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure.