vow

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An earnest promise to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner, especially a solemn promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order: take the vows of a nun.
2. n. A declaration or assertion.
3. v. To promise solemnly; pledge. See Synonyms at promise.
4. v. To make a pledge or threat to undertake: vowing revenge on their persecutors.
5. v. To make a vow; promise.
6. v. To declare or assert: "Well, I vow it is as fine a boy as ever was seen!” ( Henry Fielding).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A solemn promise; an engagement solemnly entered into. Specifically— A kind of promissory oath made to God, or to some deity, to perform some act or dedicate to the deity something of value, often in the event of receiving something specially desired, such as success in an enterprise, deliverance from danger, or recovery from sickness: as, a vow to build an altar.
2. n. A promise to follow out some line of conduct, or to consecrate or devote one's self wholly or in part for a longer or shorter time to some act or service; a pledge of fidelity or constancy: as, a marriage vow.
3. n. A solemn asseveration or declaration; a positive assertion.
4. n. A votive offering; an ex-voto.
5. To promise solemnly; undertake, by a solemn promise, as to God or a deity, to do, perform, or give; devote.
6. To threaten solemnly or upon oath.
7. To assert or maintain solemnly; asseverate; swear.
8. To make vows or solemn promises; protest solemnly; asseverate; declare emphatically.

Wiktionary

1. n. A solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order.
2. n. A declaration or assertion.
3. v. To make a vow.
4. v. To declare publicly that one made a vow, usually to show one's determination or to announce an act of retaliation.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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.
2. n. Specifically, a promise of fidelity; a pledge of love or affection.
3. v. To give, consecrate, or dedicate to God, or to some deity, by a solemn promise; to devote; to promise solemnly.
4. v. To assert solemnly; to asseverate.
5. v. To make a vow, or solemn promise.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. dedicate to a deity by a vow
2. v. make a vow; promise.
3. n. a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner