oath
/ˈoʊθ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.96 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A solemn pledge or promise that invokes a deity, a ruler, or another entity (not necessarily present) to attest the truth of a statement or sincerity of one's desire to fulfill a contract or promise.
noun
A statement or promise which is strengthened (affirmed) by such a pledge.
noun
A curse, a curse word.
Example Sentences
- "take an oath"
- "swear an oath"
- "break one's oath"
- "But all of us took an oath to do our duty when we joined the Space Force, and I fully expect everyone to willingly keep their word. But you took no oath, and have no obligation."
- "There are […] brought all the way from Bougainville to present their birth certificates and testify in this courtroom, under oath, as to their given names."
- ""I want to release you from your oath," he said, a slight flutter in his voice."
Etymology
From Middle English ooth, oth, ath, from Old English āþ (“oath”), from Proto-West Germanic *aiþ (“oath”), from Proto-Germanic *aiþaz (“oath”). Cognate with Scots aith, athe (“oath”), North Frisian ith, iss (“oath”), Saterland Frisian Eed (“oath”), West Frisian eed (“oath”), Dutch eed (“oath”), German Eid (“oath”), Swedish ed (“oath”), Icelandic eið (“oath”), Latin ūtor (“make use of, employ, avail”, verb), Old Irish óeth (“oath”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: ooth, āþ, *aiþ, *aiþaz
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈoʊθ/
- British English: /ˈəʊθ/