oath

Meanings

Noun

• A solemn pledge or promise that invokes a deity, a ruler, or another entity (not necessarily present) to attest the truth of a statement or sincerity of one's desire to fulfill a contract or promise.
• A statement or promise which is strengthened (affirmed) by such a pledge.
• A light, irreverent or insulting appeal to a deity or other entity.
• A curse, a curse word.

Verb

• To pledge.

Related

Similar words

• pledge, vow, avowal

Origin

• From Middle English ooth, oth, ath, from Old English āþ ("oath"), from Proto-Germanic *aiþaz ("oath"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁óytos ("oath"). Cognate with Scots aith, athe, North Frisian ith, iss, West Frisian eed ("oath"), Dutch eed ("oath"), German Eid ("oath"), Swedish ed ("oath"), Icelandic eið ("oath"), Latin ūtor ("use, employ, avail"), Old Irish óeth ("oath").