[f. VOW v. + -ER1.] One who makes a vow, or has taken vows.
1546. Bale, Eng. Votaries, I. 13. He … called vnto his Apostleship, not wyueless vowers, but marryed men.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 125. As touching monasticall vowes,… it might be obteined of the byshop, that none should be taken in yong, and before the vowers were of rype yeares.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 136. From whom also as being too rich for vowers of poverty, he tooke away at one clap above tenne thousand Crownes rent.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks. (1672), 179. This extent of the Vow is beyond the intent of the Vower.
1691. trans. Emilianne’s Frauds Rom. Monks (ed. 3), 407. Of all these Vowers of Chastity there are but a very few, and may be, none at all that observe it.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxix. Youthful vowers of eternal constancy.
1887. H. S. Bowden, trans. Hettinger’s Dante, 306, note. The vower can only change the matter of his vow to some greater offering to God’s honour.
