oath
pronunciation
How to pronounce oath in British English:
UK [əʊθ]
How to pronounce oath in American English:
US [oʊθ]
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- Noun:
- profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
- a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of law); to lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury
- a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior
Word Origin
- oath (n.)
- Old English að "oath, judicial swearing, solemn appeal to deity in witness of truth or a promise," from Proto-Germanic *aithaz (cognates: 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" (cognates: Old Irish oeth "oath"). Common to Celtic and Germanic, possibly a loan-word from one to the other, but the history is obscure. In reference to careless invocations of divinity, from late 12c.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Numerous guests are willing to listen to the loyalty oath .
- 2. It has also the right to summon witnesses under oath .
- 3. Nobody in british public life takes an oath to democracy .
- 4. He took an oath to keep america safe as well as free .
- 5. Mr. obama took the oath on a bible that has been in his wife 's family since 1958 .