Vow sb.

Forms: 3–4 vou (uuou, wou, wov), 5 woue (6 pl. woues), 6 voue; 4– vow (4, 5–6 Sc., wow), 4–7 vowe (4 wowe, 5 vowhe); 4 pl. vouwes, -is, fouwes; 4 voo, 5 voye, Sc. woe. [a. AF. vu(u, vou, vo, OF. vo, vou, vowe, veu (F. vœu):—L. vōt-um VOTE sb., neut. of vōtus, pa. pple. of vōvēre to promise solemnly, to pledge, dedicate, etc. Cf. AVOW sb.¹]

  1.  A solemn promise made to God, or to any deity or saint, to perform some act, or make some gift or sacrifice, in return for some special favor; more generally, a solemn engagement, undertaking, or resolve, to achieve something or to act in a certain way.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9823. Vor þoru a vowe of him þe sone bigan þat strif.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2888. He hys owne doghtyr slowe For a foly and a wykked vowe.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 239. Þer was louyng on lofte … on Moyses wyse, With sacrafyse vp-set, & solempne vowes.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 66. To paie þe pope þe first froytys… for assoilyngis of wowes, & many feyned iapis.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 136. This was his vowhe, with gret humylite, Lik his entent in ful pleyn language.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. vii. 187. To haue knowlege of woues, of testamentes, of cases of symony, useryes and other dyffyculties.

1550.  Bale, Apol., Pref. 12. Such are the rashe vowes of the ydolatrouse and mockynge papystes.

1563.  trans. Musculus’ Common-pl., 508. In a foule vow, alter thy purpose. Do not that which thou haste vnaduisedly vowed.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 151. The wals are round about hung with Images of men,… which were offered to our Lady upon vow.

1645.  Quarles, Sol. Recant., v. 66. Make hast to pay what thy vow’d Promise owes; Destruction dwels in unperformed Vowes.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 775. With Vows and suppliant Pray’rs their Pow’rs appease.

1756–7.  trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 174. It was designed for St. Joseph, in consequence of a vow made by that emperor in the year 1702, on the happy return of his son Joseph … from Landau.

1822.  Wordsw., Eccl. Sonn., III. xxi. 13. Shame if the consecrated Vow be found An idle form, the Word an empty sound.

1866.  R. W. Dale, Disc. Spec. Occas., 342. Those vows cannot now be cancelled or recalled.

1869.  Lecky, Europ. Mor., I. 144. The earliest form in which the duty of veracity is enforced is probably the observance of vows.

  b.  In phrases, as to make, to hold, keep, pay (or † yield), or to break, a vow.

  (a)  c. 1290.  St. Fides, 51, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 84. For ich habbe to him mi vou i-maked.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 28286. Ic ha made vous oft vn-right and halden þam efter my might.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2795. Ȝyf þou madest awhere any vowe To wurschyp God for þy prowe.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2942. Þan has þat man grete drede in hert; He mas þan vowes, and cryes on Crist.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 81. Kyng Oswy made a vow þat ȝif he hadde þe victorie in þat bataille he wolde offre his douȝter Elfleda to God of hevene.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 1925. To god and you a voye I make, I shal youre seruice neuer forsake.

1473.  Warkw., Chron. (Camden), 8. He made a woue that the Lorde Willowby schuld lese his hede.

1530.  Palsgr., 619/2. I make a vowe to God and to Our Ladye that I shall never slepe one night where I slepe an other, tyll I have sene hym.

1587.  Mirr. Mag., Brennus, ix. I made a vowe to kill the man that causde me flye.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 70. He … Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more To giue th’ assay of Armes against your Maiestie.

1700.  Dryden, Iliad, I. 27. So may the Gods … accord the vows you make, And give you Troy’s imperial town to take.

1718.  [see (b)].

1829.  Scott, Anne of Geierstein, i. He proceeded to recount the vow which was made … to our Lady of Einsiedlen.

1867.  W. Fleming, Moral Philos., II. II. ii. 296. We may make a Vow, however, to our fellow-creatures, or even to ourselves.

  (b)  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 24907 (Edin.). Do vou, Elis, and hald þi vow It sal te turn til mikel pru.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter cxv. 8. My wowis i sall ȝelde till lord in sight of all his folke.

1382.  Wyclif, Job xxii. 27. Thou shalt preȝen hym … and thi vouwis thou shalt ȝelde.

1526.  [see 1 c].

1560.  Bible (Genev.), Job xxii. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him,… and thou shalt rendre thy vowes.

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, II. 248. Nor would [these men] pay Their own vows to thee.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., I. xiv. 69. Being a thing unjust to pay such Vow.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, II. 22. They feigned it made For their return, and this the vow they paid.

1718.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess of Mar, 10 March. She firmly intended to keep the vow she had made.

1819.  Wordsw., Misc. Sonn., I. xi. 5. How Shall Fancy pay to thee a grateful vow?

1859.  Tennyson, Pelleas & Ettarre, 549. Have any of our Round Table held their vows? Ibid. (1876), Harold, III. i. He did not mean to keep his vow.

  (c)  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10674. Þe biscop … Durst noght hir do hir vou to breke.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 68. Himself mihte a-soylen hem alle Of Falsnesse and Fastinge and of vouwes I-broken.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 9. I haue avowet chastite. And … for I wold not breke my vow, pryuely yn a nyght, I stale forþe yn pore wede.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 404/1. To breke Vowe, deuotare, deuouere.

1534.  Elyot, Gov., III. viii. 179. Only I wyl shewe … howe terrible a thynge it was amonge them, to breke theyr othes or vowes [ed. 1531 avowes].

1596.  Edward III., II. i. 335. To breake a lawfull and religious vowe.

a. 1641.  Spelman, Tythes, xxvii. Wks. 1727, I. 131. So doubtless have we just Cause to fear the Dint of this Curse in breaking this Vow.

1791.  Cowper, Iliad, I. 78. That we may learn By what crime we have thus incensed Apollo, What broken vow … He charges on us.

1889.  Tennyson, Ring, 401. No pliable idiot I to break my vow.

  c.  Const. of (something).

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 170. Many prestis vnwisly taken a wow of chastite.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 38. Bi þe vertu of his degre, he made þe vow of chastite.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 65. To … kepe theyr foure essencial vowes the better, that is, the vowe of chastite, the vowe of obedience, the vowe of wylfull pouerte and the vowe of perpetuali inclusyon.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 121. The Law of Athens yeelds you vp … To death, or to a vow of single life.

1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 21. Sir, if I had made a vow of humility, you give me here a fair occasion to be proud for not breaking it.

1671.  Milton, Samson A., 319. Against his vow of strictest purity.

1776.  Dalrymple, Ann. Scotl., I. 109. Having made a vow of perpetual virginity.

1859.  Tennyson, Vivien, 545. They bound to holy vows of chastity! Were I not woman, I could tell a tale.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., iii. § 6. (1882), 144. The vow of Poverty was turned into a stern reality.

  † d.  To take in vow, to make a vow. Obs.^–1

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 57. Ye & take it in vowe that thy delectacyon sholde be onely in the passyon & paynes of Jesu Chryst.

  2.  Eccl. A solemn engagement to devote oneself to a religious life of a definite nature, such as that of a monastic or conventual order. Freq. in pl.; to take the vows, to enter a religious order.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 101. Þerfor iuge religiouse men in þer consciens, if þei ground hem þus in her vowis.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 59. Men must be warned that they suffre not them selves to be bounden to Monkish vowes.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 71. Thow fals heretick hast taught plainlie aganes the wowis of monkes freiris nunes and preistis.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. ii. 280. By the vow of mine Order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlvi. 376. Monks, and Friers, that are bound by Vow to that simple obedience to their Superiour, to which every Subject ought to think himself bound.

1721.  Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. xliv. 339. A late proclamation of the king that disallowed of the marriage of priests, and concerning the vows of religious persons, gave them disgust.

1753.  Challoner, Cath. Chr. Instr., 171. Those who have chosen the better Part, and consecrated themselves by Vow to God.

1814.  Scott, Lord of Isles, VI. iii. There Bruce’s slow assent allows Fair Isabel the veil and vows.

1845.  Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 463. On his friends earnestly pressing him to take the vows, he ran away.

1849.  G. P. R. James, Woodman, v. [One] who is very dangerous to all ladies not under vows.

  3.  A solemn promise of fidelity or faithful attachment. Also const. of (faith, love, etc.).

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 175. By all the vowes that euer men haue broke, (In number more then euer women spoke). Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., V. i. 18. In such a night Did young Lorenzo sweare he lou’d her well, Stealing her soule with many vowes of faith. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., II. i. 73. By all your vowes of Loue, and that great Vow Which did incorporate and make vs one.

a. 1762.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Poems, Epil. to Mary Q. of Scots, 18. Men mock the idol of their former vow.

1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xii. Let me lead you to the first Altar that will confirm our vows.

1813.  Shelley, Q. Mab, VI. 210. The fair oak, whose leafy dome affords A temple where the vows of happy love Are registered.

1829.  Lytton, Disowned, xxvii. They stood beside the altar, and their vows were exchanged.

1833.  Tennyson, Miller’s Daughter, 119. O would she give me vow for vow, Sweet Alice, if I told her all?

  4.  An enrnest wish or desire; a prayer, a supplication. (So F. vœu, L. vōtum.)

  Not always clearly distinct from sense 1.

1563.  trans. Musculus’ Common-pl., 499. A vowe is oftentymes taken for a desyre, and prayer. So whan those thynges whyche we haue desyred, do fall oute accordinge vnto oure mynde, wee saye we haue oure wishe or vowe.

a. 1599.  Spenser, F. Q., VII. vi. 22. His brow (His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beck Is wont to wield the world vnto his vow).

1600.  O. E. (M. Sutcliffe), Repl. Libel, I. v. 125. They haue nothing more in their vowes, then her Maiesties ruine.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, III. 518. When … priests with holy vows the gods adore.

1742.  Hume, Ess., Stoic, I. xvi. (1777), I. 159. Even their own vows, though granted, cannot give them happiness.

1747.  Hoadly, Suspicious Husband, Ded. To send up my warmest Vows … that your Majesty may long enjoy the fruits of [etc.].

1794.  Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 252. You have my most ardent vows for an auspicious beginning.

1820.  Shelley, Œd. Tyr., I. 16. Thou to whom Kings and laurelled Emperors … Offer their secret vows!

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., lxxix. At one dear knee we proffer’d vows, One lesson from one book we learn’d.

  5.  A solemn affirmation or asseveration.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 159. A dreadfull Oath, sworne with a solemn tongue: What instance giues Lord Warwicke for his vow. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., I. ii. 47. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. I may not verely. Her. Verely? You put me off with limber Vowes.

1862.  R. S. Hawker, in C. E. Byles, Life & Lett., xvii. (1905), 386. Every Methodist Preacher or Hearer must attest by Vow and Signature his assent to a Paragraph in Wesley’s XIth Sermon on the Witness of the Spirit.

  † 6.  A votive offering. Obs. rare.

1382.  Wyclif, Deut., xii. 6 (early MSS.). Ȝee shul come & offre in þat place brent sacrifises,… & vouwis & ȝiftes.

1535.  Coverdale, Ibid.

1611.  Bible, 1 Esdras viii. 58. The vessels are holy, and the golde, and the siluer is a vowe vnto the Lord.

1686.  Burnet, Lett. (1708), 126. The little Vows, that hang without the holy Chapel.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 21 May 1645. There is belonging to this Church a world of plate,… and lamps innumerable, besides the costly vowes hung up, some of gold.

  7.  Comb., as vow-maker, -making, -pledged, -sanctifier, -sighing; † vow-fellow, one who is bound by the same vow. Also VOW-BREAKER, etc.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 38. Who are the Votaries, my louing Lords, that are vow-fellowes with this vertuous Duke?

1598.  Florio, Votario, a votarie, a vower, a promiser, a vow-maker.

1668.  Clarendon, Ess., Tracts (1727), 177. That these vow-makers should be thought so necessary, when every one of their three vows is directly against the health … of the kingdom.

1681.  Dryden, Span. Friar, II. iii. Love you know, father, is a great vow-maker, but he’s a greater vow-breaker.

1743.  Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, III. x. 14. Neither presents, nor vow-sighing strain.

1805.  Wordsw., Waggoner, III. 44. What tears of rapture, what vow-making!

1817.  Lady Morgan, France, I. (1818), I. 97. The days of the vow-making Louis XIII.

1832.  Motherwell, Poet. Wks. (1847), 48.