Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vow
Vow
,Noun.
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;
“Nothing . . . that may . . . stain my vow of Nazarite.” as, a baptismal
. vow
; a vow
of povertyMilton.
I pray thee, let me go and pay my
vow
. 2 Sam. xv. 7.
I am combined by a sacred
vow
. Shakespeare
2.
Specifically, a promise of fidelity; a pledge of love or affection;
as, the marriage
. vow
Knights of love, who never broke their
Firm to their plighted faith.
vow
;Firm to their plighted faith.
Dryden.
Vow
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Vowed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Vowing
.] 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. Shakespeare
2.
To assert solemnly; to asseverate.
Vow
,Verb.
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 1828 Edition
Vow
VOW
, n.1.
A solemn promisemade to God, or by a pagan to his deity. The Roman generals when they went to war, sometimes made a vow that they would build a temple to some favorite deity, if he would give them victory. A vow is a promise of something to be given or done hereafter. A person is constituted a religious by taking three vows, of chastity, of poverty, and of obedience. Among the Isrealites, the vows of children were not binding, unless ratified by the express or tacit consent of their father. Num. 30.
2.
A solemn promise; as the vows of unchangeable love and fidelity. In a moral and religious sense, vows are promises to God, as they appeal to God to witness their sincerity, and the violation of them is a most heinous offense.VOW
,Verb.
T.
1.
To give, consecrate or dedicate to God by a solemn promise. When Jacob went to Mesopotamia, he vowed to God a tenth of this substance, and his own future devotion to his service. Gen. 28. When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay it. Eccles. 5.
2.
To devote.VOW
,Verb.
I.