Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

vows

 - 5 dictionary results

vow

[vou] ,
–noun
1. a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment: marriage vows; a vow of secrecy.
2. a solemn promise made to a deity or saint committing oneself to an act, service, or condition.
3. a solemn or earnest declaration.
–verb (used with object)
4. to make a vow of; promise by a vow, as to God or a saint: to vow a crusade or a pilgrimage.
5. to pledge or resolve solemnly to do, make, give, observe, etc.: They vowed revenge.
6. to declare solemnly or earnestly; assert emphatically (often fol. by a clause as object): She vowed that she would take the matter to court.
7. to dedicate or devote by a vow: to vow oneself to the service of God.
–verb (used without object)
8. to make a vow.
9. to make a solemn or earnest declaration.
10. take vows, to enter a religious order or house.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME < AF, OF vo(u) < L vōtum, neut. of vōtus, ptp. of vovēre to vow


vower, noun
vowless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To vows
vow 1   (vou)   
n.  
  1. 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.

  2. A declaration or assertion.

v.   vowed, vow·ing, vows

v.   tr.
  1. To promise solemnly; pledge. See Synonyms at promise.

  2. 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.]
vow'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

vow  (n.)
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: vow
Function: transitive verb
1 : to promise solemnly
2 : to bind or commit by a vow intransitive verb : to make a vow —vow·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Bible Dictionary

Vows

voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Gen. 28: 18-22; Lev. 7:16; Num. 30:2-13; Deut. 23:18; Judg. 11:30, 39; 1 Sam. 1:11; Jonah 1:16; Acts 18:18; 21:23).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
Search another word or see vows on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: