oath

/oʊθ/

/əʊθ/

Other forms: oaths

An oath is a promise. If you want to borrow your brother's car, you may have to swear a solemn oath that you will bring it back unharmed.

An oath is a solemn promise, sometimes made in front of a witness, or a vow in a court of law that you will tell the absolute truth. No matter what the circumstances are, swearing an oath is serious business. That's why it's odd that an oath can also be an angry outburst of obscene words. Your brother might mutter an oath under his breath and clench his fists angrily if you return his car to him with a broken side mirror.

Definitions of oath

1. noun

   a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior
   “they took an oath of allegiance”

   examples:

   Hippocratic oath

   an oath taken by physicians to observe medical ethics deriving from Hippocrates

   types:

   bayat

   an oath of allegiance to an emir

   type of:

   promise

   a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
2. noun

   a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of law); to lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury
   synonyms: swearing

   type of:

   commitment, dedication

   a message that makes a pledge
3. noun

   profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
   synonyms: curse, curse word, cuss, expletive, swearing, swearword

   type of:

   profanity

   vulgar or irreverent speech or action