vow
1 (vou)
[Middle English vou, from Old French, from Latin vōtum; see vote.]
noun
- An earnest promise to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner, especially a solemn promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order: take the vows of a nun.
- A declaration or assertion.
verb: vowed, vow·ing, vows.
transitive verb
- To promise solemnly; pledge. See synonyms at promise
- To make a pledge or threat to undertake: vowing revenge on their persecutors.
intransitive verb
- To make a vow; promise.
derivatives
- voẃer
- noun
vow
2 (vou)
[Short for avow.]
transitive verb
- To declare or assert: “Well, I vow it is as fine a boy as ever was seen!” (Henry Fielding)