oaths
Sworn binding promises
Oaths are solemn promises or declarations, often invoking a deity or something sacred as witness.
People take oaths of office, oaths of allegiance, oaths to tell the truth in court.
The word also refers to profane exclamations—curses or swear words: He muttered oaths under his breath.
Both senses share the idea of words spoken with force or gravity.
Binding promise given
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- wordLinguistic meaning unit
- assuranceFirm promise or certainty
bond · covenant · guarantee · undertaking · affirmation · avowal · declaration · troth
Faithful commitment to another
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- patriotismDevotion to one's homeland
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
duty · honor · citizenship · enlistment · naturalization · flag · constitution · sovereign
Sworn statement as evidence
- affidavitSworn written statement
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- sworn statementLegally binding written testimony
witness · courtroom · notarization · attestation · swearing in · Bible · affirmation · so help me God
Dedicated to the divine
- consecratedDeclared sacred through ritual
- sanctifiedMade sacred through blessing
- divineOf or from gods
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
solemn · reverence · piety · covenant · votive · blessing · religious vows · monastic vows
Using profane language
- swearingProfane speech or vows
- cussingUsing profane language
- expletivesVulgar exclamations
- obscenityIndecent word or act
blasphemy · vulgarity · four-letter words · foul language · invective · taboo words · epithets · imprecations
Formal beginning ceremony
- inductionFormal admission process
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- installationProcess of putting in
consecration · swearing-in · initiation · ritual · solemnity · formality · hand on heart · raised hand
pledge
Binding promise given
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- wordLinguistic meaning unit
assurance · bond · covenant · guarantee · undertaking · affirmation · avowal · declaration · troth · compact
loyalty
Faithful commitment to another
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- patriotismDevotion to one's homeland
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
devotion · duty · honor · citizenship · enlistment · naturalization · flag · constitution · sovereign · sworn duty
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
- affidavitSworn written statement
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
sworn statement · witness · courtroom · notarization · attestation · swearing in · Bible · affirmation · so help me God · truthfulness
holy
Dedicated to the divine
- consecratedDeclared sacred through ritual
- sanctifiedMade sacred through blessing
- divineOf or from gods
sacrament · solemn · reverence · piety · covenant · votive · blessing · religious vows · monastic vows · marriage vows
cursing
Using profane language
- swearingProfane speech or vows
- cussingUsing profane language
- expletivesVulgar exclamations
obscenity · blasphemy · vulgarity · four-letter words · foul language · invective · taboo words · epithets · imprecations · ribaldry
inauguration
Formal beginning ceremony
- inductionFormal admission process
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
installation · consecration · swearing-in · initiation · ritual · solemnity · formality · hand on heart · raised hand · Bible
- patriotismnational anthem, national flags, love of country, patriotism, flag waving
- Anglo-SaxonsBeowulf, Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia
- ancient diplomacyenvoys, ambassadors, emissaries, peace treaties, alliances
- Clanclansman, clansmen, clanswoman, chieftain, kinship ties
- Early MedievalCharlemagne, Carolingian Empire, Carolingians, Carolingian, Viking Age
- Medieval Bondsfealty, allegiance, vassalage, liege, knighthood
oathsidle chatter
Trivial, aimless conversation
small talk · empty words · hedges · chitchat · equivocations
oathsperjury
Criminal courtroom dishonesty
false testimony · lies · falsehoods · deceptions · broken promises
oathsrenunciations
Acts of formally rejecting
disavowals · repudiations · betrayals · defections · apostasies
- under oathFormally pledged to honesty
- sworn oathFormal binding promise
- false oathDishonest sworn statement
- lying under oathGiving false sworn testimony
- oath of officeFormal vow for public duty
- blood oathVow sealed by bloodshed