An earnest promise to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner, especially a solemn promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order: take the vows of a nun.
A declaration or assertion.
v.
vowed, vow·ing, vows
v.
tr.
To promise solemnly; pledge. See Synonyms at promise.
To make a pledge or threat to undertake: vowing revenge on their persecutors.
v.
intr.
To make a vow; promise.
[Middle English vou, from Old French, from Latin vōtum; see vote.]
1297, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vou, from L. votum "a vow, wish, promise, dedication," noun use of neut. of votus, pp. of vovere "to promise solemnly, pledge, dedicate, vow," from PIE base *ewegwh- "to speak solemnly, vow" (cf. Skt. vaghat- "one who offers a sacrifice;" Gk. eukhe "vow, wish," eukhomai "I pray"). The verb is attested from c.1300, from O.Fr. vouer.
De*vote"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.] [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow, and cf. Devout, Devow.]1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames. No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. --Lev. xxvii. 28. 2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.] 3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc. Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. --Ps. cxix. 38. They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. --Grew. A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing. --Gray. Syn: To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict.
Vo"ta*ry\, a. [From L. votus, p. p. vovere to vow, to devote. See Vote, Vow.] Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised. Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom. --Bacon.
Vote\, n. [L. votum a vow, wish, will, fr. vovere, votum, to vow: cf. F. vote. See Vow.]1. An ardent wish or desire; a vow; a prayer. [Obs.] --Massinger. 2. A wish, choice, or opinion, of a person or a body of persons, expressed in some received and authorized way; the expression of a wish, desire, will, preference, or choice, in regard to any measure proposed, in which the person voting has an interest in common with others, either in electing a person to office, or in passing laws, rules, regulations, etc.; suffrage. 3. That by means of which will or preference is expressed in elections, or in deciding propositions; voice; a ballot; a ticket; as, a written vote. The freeman casting with unpurchased hand The vote that shakes the turrets of the land. --Holmes. 4. Expression of judgment or will by a majority; legal decision by some expression of the minds of a number; as, the vote was unanimous; a vote of confidence. 5. Votes, collectively; as, the Tory vote; the labor vote. Casting vote, Cumulative vote, etc. See under Casting, Cumulative, etc.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [vou] Pronunciation Key, 
