I. ˈōth noun
( plural oaths -ths, -thz)
Etymology: Middle English ooth, oth, from Old English āth; akin to Old High German eid oath, Old Norse eithr, Gothic aiths; all probably from a prehistoric Germanic word of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish ōeth oath
1.
a.
(1) : a solemn usually formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness to the fact that one sincerely intends to do what one says
(2) : a usually formal affirmation made solemn by being coupled with the invocation of something viewed as sacred or of something highly revered
(3) : a usually formal affirmation that is in some way made solemn without such an appeal or without such an invocation
b. : something (as the truth of what one says, a promise that one makes) that is corroborated by an oath
c. : a form of expression used in taking an oath
2.
a. : an irreverent or thoughtless or otherwise profane use (as in giving vent to anger, expressing ill will or annoyance, expressing surprise, corroborating a trivial statement) of the name of something viewed as sacred (as the name of God, Christ)
b. : a word or phrase identical with or derived from or in some other way involving the name of something viewed as sacred that is used in such an irreverent or thoughtless or otherwise profane way
•
- under oath
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
archaic : swear