oath

Origin: OE. Othe, oth, ath, AS. A; akin to D. Eed, OS. E, G. Eid, Icel. Eir, Sw. Ed, Dan. Eed, Goth. Ais; cf. OIr. Oeth.

1. A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. "I have an oath in heaven" "An oath of secrecy for the concealing of those [inventions] which we think fit to keep secret." (Bacon)

2. A solemn affirmation, connected with a sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the temple, the altar, the blood of Abel, the Bible, the Koran, etc.

3. An appeal (in verification of a statement made) to a superior sanction, in such a form as exposes the party making the appeal to an indictment for perjury if the statement be false.

4. A careless and blasphemous use of the name of the divine Being, or anything divine or sacred, by way of appeal or as a profane exclamation or ejaculation; an expression of profane swearing. "A terrible oath"

(01 Mar 1998)


Terms mentioned in text: affirmation, appeal, god, secrecy, think, fit, keep, secret, bacon, affirmation, sacred, object, temple, altar, blood, bible, appeal, superior, exposes, false, use, name, divine, being, sacred, way, appeal, ejaculation, expression
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