Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Vow

Vow (vou), n. [OE. vou, OF. vou, veu, vo, vu, F. vœu, from L. votum, from vovere, to vow. Cf. Avow, Devout, Vote.]

1. A solemn promise made to God, or to some deity; an act by which one consecrates or devotes himself, absolutely or conditionally, wholly or in part, for a longer or shorter time, to some act, service, or condition; a devotion of one's possessions; as, a baptismal vow; a vow of poverty. "Nothing . . . that may . . . stain my vow of Nazarite." Milton.

I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow. 2 Sam. xv. 7.

I am combined by a sacred vow. Shak.

2. Specifically, a promise of fidelity; a pledge of love or affection; as, the marriage vow.

Knights of love, who never broke their vow; Firm to their plighted faith. Dryden.

Vow (vou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Vowing.] [OE. vouen, OF. vouer, voer, F. vouer, LL. votare. See Vow, n.]

1. To give, consecrate, or dedicate to God, or to some deity, by a solemn promise; to devote; to promise solemnly. "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it." Eccl. v. 4.

[Men] that vow a long and weary pilgrimage. Shak.

2. To assert solemnly; to asseverate.

Vow, v. i. To make a vow, or solemn promise.

Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Eccl. v. 5.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article; Greek words our source left out (shown as “?”), read from the 1898 printing, from the same plates (the Library of Congress’s copy), where the place could be found with certainty. Of the others, 1,362 (a word or a single letter each) were inferred by AI from the context by the dictionary’s own rules and are marked with a wavy underline (tap or point at one to see the note); the rest, which could not be inferred with confidence, are left as “?”.