Definition of oath

The word "oath" originated from the Old English word "āð" which was pronounced as "ATH." This word was derived from the Germanic root "watho-," which means "devotion or devoutness." The Old English word "āð" was used as a poetic term for "solemn promise" or "vow." When the English language adopted the Latin-French vocabulary, the word "oath" was borrowed from the Old French word "uiue" which was the borrowed word from the Latin "IVO" meaning "live." The Latin word "IVO" was used to mean "by the life force" or "by the life that is in me." In the Middle English era, both the old English and French words coexisted, and the word "oatht" came to be used to distinguish the old English word from the new French word "oath." The word "oatht" meant "the statement made on taking an oath." Over time, the word "oatht" became obsolete, and the word "oath" prevailed. Today, the word "oath" retains its traditional meaning of a solemn promise or vow made in the presence of witnesses or a higher authority, often invoking a divine being as witness. Its roots still contain an element of implying a connection, devotion, or invoking a higher power, which serves as a reminder of the traditional meaning of the word.