/ vaʊ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
a formal and serious promise, especially a religious one, to do sth :
to make / take a vow
to break / keep a vow
to break your marriage vows
Nuns take a vow of chastity.
■ verb
to make a formal and serious promise to do sth or a formal statement that is true :
[ v to inf ]
She vowed never to speak to him again.
[ v ( that )]
He vowed (that) he had not hurt her.
[ vn ]
They vowed eternal friendship.
[also v speech ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French vou , from Latin votum a vow, wish, from vovere to vow; the verb is from Old French vouer .