oath

n. solemn vow; words of a solemn promise; curse

Object-oriented Abstract Type Hierarchy (OATH) is a class library for C++ from Texas Instruments.
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An oath (from Anglo-Saxon ) is either a promise or a statement of fact calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually a god, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To is to take an oath.A person taking an oath indicates this in a number of ways. The most usual is the explicit "I swear," but any statement or promise that includes "with N as my witness" or "so help me N," with N being something or someone the oath-taker holds sacred, is an oath. Many people take an oath by holding in their hand or placing over their head a book of scripture or a sacred object, thus indicating the sacred witness through their action: such an oath is called corporal. However, the chief purpose of such an act is for ceremony or solemnity, and the act does not of itself make an oath. There is confusion between oaths and other statements or promises. The current Olympic Oath, for instance, is really a pledge and not properly an oath since there is only a "promise" and no appeal to a sacred witness. Oaths are also confused with vows, but really a vow is a special kind of oath. In law, oaths are made by a witness to a court of law before giving testimony and usually by a newly-appointed government officer to the people of a state before taking office. In both of those cases, though, an affirmation can be usually substituted. A written statement, if the author swears the statement is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is called an affidavit. The oath given to support an affidavit is frequently administered by a notary public who will memorialize the giving of the oath by affixing her or his seal to the document. Breaking an oath is perjury, although in modern usage perjury means breaking an oath or affirmation to tell the truth in court.
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Noun
1. profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger; "expletives were deleted"
(synonym) curse, curse word, expletive, swearing, swearword, cuss
(hypernym) profanity
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
(synonym) swearing
(hypernym) commitment, dedication
3. a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior; "they took an oath of allegience"
(hypernym) promise
(hyponym) bayat

(n.)
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.
  

(n.)
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.
  

(n.)
A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed.
  

(n.)
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.
  

Invocation of a supernatural or holy being called to verify the veracity of a statement. Sometimes, oaths were given over a relic or a church altar. An oath was a special appeal, an expression of sincerity backed up by the threat of divine retribution should the uttering prove false--hence the term ‘oath-breaker’. An oathbreaker was assumed to have committed a crime against God or of some divine entity, which would lead to damnation or another form of severe penalty. Such oaths might take the form of ‘I swear upon the all that is Right and Holy that...’ Or, placing one’s hand upon a holy relic, ‘I, Reginald, do swear before these gathered witnesses that I did see...’