I. ˈvau̇ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English vowe, vow, vou, from Old French vo, vou, vowe, from Latin votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre to vow; akin to Greek euchesthai to pray, vow, Sanskrit ohate he praises
1.
a. : a solemn promise : pledge
make a vow to give up smoking
specifically : oath
makes vow … nevermore to give the assay of arms against your Majesty — Shakespeare
b. : a promise of constancy and especially of marital fidelity
exchange marriage vows
2.
a. obsolete : a votive offering
the vast treasures of the abbey … crucifixes, and vows, crowns and reliquaries — Thomas Gray
b. : a promise of dedication to the monastic life — compare simple vow , solemn vow
3. : an earnest wish or declaration : prayer
it is customary for a song of lamentation to close with a vow of gratitude and praise — E.A.Leslie
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English vowen, vouen, from Old French vower, vover, from vo, vowe, vou, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to promise solemnly : swear
vowed never to leave each other — American Guide Series: Texas
leaders vow … filibuster won't derail program — Wall Street Journal
when a man vows a vow to the Lord … he shall not break his word — Num 30:2(Revised Standard Version)
b. : to resolve to bring about : pledge
with rhetorical swagger … vowing the death of an aristocrat — F.J.Mather
2. : to dedicate to a specified pursuit or service : consecrate
creatures of the Devil, vowed to idolatry — Nevil Shute
virgins vowed to Heaven — Alfred Austin
his country … was vowed to other quests than that of the Holy Grail — Clifton Fadiman
intransitive verb
: to make a solemn promise
the hall was all in tumult — some vowing, and some protesting — Alfred Tennyson
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English vowen, short for avowen — more at avow
: avow , declare
I vow there's a heap of stars out tonight — Elizabeth M. Roberts
IV. interjection
Etymology: ( I ) vow (avow)
chiefly Scotland — used to express an emphatic degree (as of surprise or admiration)
it's long since I saw you, and vow ! ye're grown gaudy and grand — William Nicholson