An oath is a formal promise, especially a promise to be loyal to a person or country.
He took an oath of loyalty to the government. [+ of]
He swore an oath promising to uphold and protect the country's laws and constitution.
2. See also Hippocratic oath
3. singular noun [oft on/underN]
In a court of law, when someone takes theoath, they make a formal promise to tell the truth. You can say that someone is on oath or under oath when they have made this promise.
His girlfriend had gone into the witness box and taken the oath.
Under oath, he finally admitted that he had lied.
Three officers gave evidence on oath against him.
4. countable noun
An oath is an offensive or emphatic word or expression which you use when you are angry or shocked.
[written]
Wellor let out a foul oath and hurled himself upon him.
Synonyms: swear word, curse, obscenity, blasphemy More Synonyms of oath
More Synonyms of oath
oath in British English
(əʊθ)
nounWord forms: pluraloaths (əʊðz)
1.
a solemn pronouncement to affirm the truth of a statement or to pledge a person to some course of action, often involving a sacred being or object as witness
▶ Related adjective: juratory
2.
the form of such a pronouncement
3.
an irreverent or blasphemous expression, esp one involving the name of a deity; curse
4. on oath
5. take an oath
exclamation
6. bloody oath!
Word origin
Old English āth; related to Old Saxon, Old Frisian ēth, Old High German eid
oath in American English
(oʊθ)
nounWord forms: pluraloaths (oʊðz; oʊθs)
1.
a.
a ritualistic declaration, typically based on an appeal to God or a god or to some revered person or object, that one will speak the truth, keep a promise, remain faithful, etc.
b.
the ritual form used in making such a declaration
c.
the thing promised or declared in this way
2.
the irreverent or profane use of the name of God or of a sacred thing to express anger or emphasize a statement
3.
a swearword; curse
Idioms:
under oath
Word origin
ME oth < OE ath, akin to Ger eid, prob. via Celt < IE *oitos (> OIr ōeth) < base *ei-, to go (basic sense: ? to advance to take an oath) > year, L ire, to go
Examples of 'oath' in a sentence
oath
I swore to do so under my oath of office.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A new oath of allegiance will be drawn up to be taken by all holders of public office.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The oath of allegiance may be extended to cover civil servants and others working in the public sector, including council workers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
ALL holders of public office will have to swear an oath of allegiance to British values in an attempt to combat extremism.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
New citizens make an oath of allegiance or affirmation and a pledge to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But lawyers representing the company told the court on oath the photos are not theirs to sell.
The Sun (2012)
Such duties would be set out in a statute and reinforced by a revised oath of office.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They must know the national anthem and pledge the oath of allegiance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
An oath of loyalty and obedience to me.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
Jury members swear an oath to give a true verdict.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Those who refused to take this oath were deemed to have resigned their offices.
Michael Burleigh Earthly Powers: Religion and Politics in Europe from the Enlightenment to the GreatWar (2005)
There he released all those with him from their oath of allegiance.
Philip Marsden The Barefoot Emperor: An Ethiopian Tragedy (2007)
It could all go horribly wrong if she has to swear an oath in court.
The Sun (2011)
This is the explicit oath taken voluntarily by all who serve.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He remembers the oath of allegiance he has sworn.
Andrew Bridgeford 1066: and the Hidden History of the Bayeux Tapestry (2004)
Jurors could also take a new oath not to research cases.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He will shed his military uniform tomorrow and go on to take the oath of office for his third presidential term.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
On oath in court, they told conflicting stories.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
As in a classic conspiracy narrative, they swear an oath of loyalty.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
She took the oath of allegiance in the Lords yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What price did William pay for your life, for your loyalty sworn by oath?
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
Historically, in criminal and civil procedure facts had to be proved by oral evidence on oath in court and tested by cross-examination.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that he is afraid of his enemy, but that he thinks little of GodPlutarchLives: Lysander
Oaths are but words, and words but windSamuel ButlerHudibras
Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nayBible: James
In other languages
oath
British English: oath /əʊθ/ NOUN
An oath is a formal promise.
The soldier took an oath to defend his country.
American English: oath
Arabic: قَسَمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: juramento
Chinese: 誓言
Croatian: prisega
Czech: přísaha
Danish: ed
Dutch: eed
European Spanish: juramento
Finnish: vala
French: serment
German: Eid
Greek: όρκος
Italian: giuramento
Japanese: 誓い
Korean: 서약
Norwegian: ed
Polish: przysięga
European Portuguese: juramento
Romanian: jurământ
Russian: клятва
Latin American Spanish: juramento
Swedish: ed heligt löfte
Thai: คำปฏิญาณ
Turkish: yemin
Ukrainian: присяга
Vietnamese: lời tuyên thệ
Chinese translation of 'oath'
oath
(əuθ)
n(c)
(= promise) 誓言 (shìyán) (个(個), gè)
(o.f., = swearword) 咒骂(罵) (zhòumà)
on (Brit) or under oath在发(發)誓的情况(況)下 (zài fāshì de qíngkuàng xià)
to take the oath (Law) 宣誓 (xuānshì)
1 (noun)
Definition
a solemn promise, esp. to tell the truth in a court of law
a solemn oath by members to help each other
Synonyms
promise
If you make a promise, you should keep it.
bond
I'm not about to betray my bond with my brother.
pledge
a pledge to step up cooperation between the states
vow
Most people still take their marriage vows seriously.
word
He simply cannot be trusted to keep his word.
compact
The Pilgrims signed a democratic compact aboard the Mayflower.
covenant
the United Nations covenant on civil and political rights
affirmation
The ministers issued a robust affirmation of their faith in the system.
sworn statement
avowal
He made an avowal to set himself right once again.
word of honour
2 (noun)
Definition
an offensive or blasphemous expression
Weller let out a foul oath and hurled himself upon him.
Synonyms
swear word
curse
She shot him an angry look and a curse.
obscenity
They shouted obscenities at us as we passed.
blasphemy
expletive
He muttered an expletive under his breath.
four-letter word
cuss (informal)
profanity
Our ears were assailed by curses and profanities.
strong language
imprecation (formal)
malediction
vulgarism
related words
related adjectivejuratory
Quotations
He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that he is afraid of his enemy, but that he thinks little of God [Plutarch – Lives: Lysander]Oaths are but words, and words but wind [Samuel Butler – Hudibras]Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay [Bible: James]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affirmation
The ministers issued a robust affirmation of their faith in the system.
Synonyms
declaration,
statement,
assertion,
oath,
certification,
pronouncement,
avowal,
asseveration (formal),
averment
in the sense of avowal
He made an avowal to set himself right once again.
Synonyms
statement,
allegation,
recognition,
profession,
declaration,
maintenance,
assertion,
oath,
affirmation,
proclamation,
asseveration (formal),
averment
in the sense of bond
Definition
a written or spoken agreement, esp. a promise
I'm not about to betray my bond with my brother.
Synonyms
agreement,
word,
promise,
contract,
guarantee,
pledge,
obligation,
compact,
covenant
Nearby words of
oath
oak
oar
oasis
oath
obdurate
obedience
obedient
Synonyms of 'oath'
oath
Explore 'oath' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of compact
Definition
a contract or agreement
The Pilgrims signed a democratic compact aboard the Mayflower.
Synonyms
agreement,
deal (informal),
understanding,
contract,
bond,
arrangement,
alliance,
treaty,
bargain,
pact,
covenant,
entente,
concordat
in the sense of covenant
Definition
a formal sealed agreement
the United Nations covenant on civil and political rights
Synonyms
promise,
contract,
agreement,
commitment,
arrangement,
treaty,
pledge,
bargain,
convention,
pact,
compact,
concordat,
trust
in the sense of curse
Definition
a profane or obscene expression, usually of anger
She shot him an angry look and a curse.
Synonyms
oath,
obscenity,
blasphemy,
expletive,
profanity,
imprecation,
swearword
in the sense of expletive
Definition
an exclamation or swearword expressing emotion rather than meaning
He muttered an expletive under his breath.
Synonyms
swear word,
curse,
obscenity,
oath,
four-letter word,
cuss (informal),
profanity,
rude word
in the sense of imprecation
Definition
a curse
Synonyms
curse,
denunciation,
anathema,
blasphemy,
vilification,
profanity,
malediction,
execration
in the sense of obscenity
They shouted obscenities at us as we passed.
Synonyms
swear word,
curse,
oath,
expletive,
four-letter word,
cuss (informal),
profanity,
vulgarism
in the sense of pledge
Definition
a solemn promise
a pledge to step up cooperation between the states
Synonyms
promise,
vow,
assurance,
word,
undertaking,
warrant,
oath,
covenant,
word of honour
in the sense of profanity
Definition
coarse or blasphemous action or speech
Our ears were assailed by curses and profanities.
Synonyms
swearing,
abuse,
curse,
cursing,
obscenity,
four-letter word,
foul language,
imprecation,
malediction,
swearword,
execration
in the sense of vow
Definition
a solemn and binding promise
Most people still take their marriage vows seriously.