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oath

noun US /oʊθ/

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

How often you will meet it

Rank 2,502 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 6,801 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.

What it means

noun

  1. profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger also: curse, curse word, expletive, swearing, swearword, cuss expletives were deleted
  2. a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of law); to lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury also: swearing
  3. a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior they took an oath of allegiance

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

oath in real books

Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.

  • With an oath of fury and surprise at this sudden interruption, the young fellow turned upon Vincent.

    With Lee in Virginia · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 2

  • Both of us then took a most solemn oath that so dread a secret should perish with us.

    The Satyricon — Volume 01: Introduction · 20-66 Petronius Arbiter · Chapter 1

  • Stamping with rage, Henry swore a great oath, and smote the trunk of the tree with his sword.

    Windsor Castle · William Harrison Ainsworth · Chapter 2

  • Vesta was the goddess of the home, and the vestal virgins were bound by oath never to marry.

    Narrative and Lyric Poems (first series) · O. J. [Annotator] Stevenson · Chapter 1

  • Thus Maxence had sworn to himself to change his mode of life, promising that it would be no drunkard’s oath, either.

    Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1

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