Etymology

vow

V4O1W4

Today it means: A solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order. Full definition →

Middle English vowe ← Old French vut ← Latin vōtum
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromvōtum“a promise, dedication, vow”
  2. Old French · derived fromvut
  3. Middle English · inherited fromvowe
  4. English todayvow

Inherited from Middle English vowe, voue, that from Old French vut, in turn from Latin vōtum (“a promise, dedication, vow”), from vovēre (“to promise, vow”). Not related to avow. Doublet of vote.

Words from the same roots

Latinvōtum all →

vote

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.