noun, plural oaths [ohthz, ohths] /oʊðz, oʊθs/.
- a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing, to witness one’s determination to speak the truth, to keep a promise, etc.: to testify upon oath.
- a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.
- a formally affirmed statement or promise accepted as an equivalent of an appeal to a deity or to a revered person or thing; affirmation.
- the form of words in which such a statement or promise is made.
- an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or anything sacred.
- any profane expression; curse; swearword: He slammed the door with a muttered oath.
Idioms
- take an oath, to swear solemnly; vow.
noun plural oaths (əʊðz)
- a solemn pronouncement to affirm the truth of a statement or to pledge a person to some course of action, often involving a sacred being or object as witnessRelated adjective: juratory
- the form of such a pronouncement
- an irreverent or blasphemous expression, esp one involving the name of a deity; curse
- on oath, upon oath or under oath
- under the obligation of an oath
- lawhaving sworn to tell the truth, usually with one’s hand on the Bible
- take an oath to declare formally with an oath or pledge, esp before giving evidence
n.Old English að “oath, judicial swearing, solemn appeal to deity in witness of truth or a promise,” from Proto-Germanic *aithaz (cf. Old Norse eiðr, Swedish ed, Old Saxon, Old Frisian eth, Middle Dutch eet, Dutch eed, German eid, Gothic aiþs “oath”), from PIE *oi-to- “an oath” (cf. Old Irish oeth “oath”). In reference to careless invocations of divinity, from late 12c.