Category:Oath

Oath, n.; pl. Oaths. Etym: [oe. othe, oth, ath, as. a; akin to d. Eed, os. e, g. eid, icel. ei, sw. ed, dan. eed, goth. ai; 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" Shak. 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. (law)

Defn: 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" shak.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Oath - A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deuteronomy 6:13; Jeremiah 4:2), in various forms (Genesis 16:5; 2 Samuel 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hosea 4:15; Romans 1:9), and taken in different ways (Genesis 14:22; Genesis 24:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Hebrews 6:16), so also Christ (Matthew 26:64), and Paul (Romans 9:1; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matthew 5:34, Matthew 5:37). But if the words are taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show "that the proper state of Christians is to require no oaths; that when evil is expelled from among them every yea and nay will be as decisive as an oath, every promise as binding as a vow."