Definition of "oath" []

• A solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God, a god, or a sacred object as witness. (noun)
• The words or formula of such a declaration or promise. (noun)
• Something declared or promised. (noun)
• An irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or something held sacred. (noun)
• An imprecation; a curse. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Flemyng mentions, in a letter to Cecil, November 29, 1563, that O'Neill told him, when about to take the oaths of his people to an agreement with the Queen, that "Cusack did not give them their oath so, _but let me give them their oath_.""
• "Council-General, -- some of which depositions were upon oath, some upon honor, and others neither upon _oath_ nor _honor_, but all or most of which were of an irregular and irrelevant nature, and not fit or decent to be taken by a British magistrate, or to be transmitted to a British government."
• "Hastings objected to his being put to his oath; that the question was nevertheless put to him, in consequence of a resolution of the board; that he first declined to swear, under pretence _that it was a matter of serious consequence to his character to take an oath_, and, when it was finally left to his option, he declared, "Mean people might swear, but that his character would not allow him, -- that he could not swear, and had rather subject himself to a loss.""