Vow

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /vaʊ/

Definitions

1. a solemn commitment or sacred pledge that binds one to a specific course of action or belief
2. a formal promise or oath, often ceremonial in nature, that one undertakes with binding intention
3. A serious pledge or commitment made with strong intent ; to solemnly promise or pledge to do something

Etymology: The English noun "vow" has a close cousin you might not expect: "vote." Both descend from the Latin "vōtum," meaning a promise or dedication, which came from the verb "vovēre," to promise or vow. The two words split as they passed through different routes into English, which makes them what etymologists call doublets. "Vow" came into English through Middle English "vowe" and "voue," which were drawn from Old French "vut." The Latin sense of solemn promise carried over almost intact, so the word has always leaned toward a serious, binding pledge, and the ceremonial flavour it still carries reflects that original weight. "Vote," by contrast, carried the Latin idea of a wish or expressed choice into a different set of meanings, eventually becoming the act of expressing a preference in an election. Despite their divergent paths, the two words are not related to "avow," a separate word that is not connected to the Latin root.

Synonyms: pledge, promise, oath, commitment, pledging

Antonyms: break, renounce, revoke, disavow, abjure