Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VOW, n. [Fr. vans; It. veto L. votum, from voveo, to vow probably a contracted word]

1. A solemn promise made to God, or by a pagan to his deity The Roman generals when they went to war, sometimes made a vow that they would build a temple to some favor deity, if he would give them victory. A vow is a promise of something to be given or done hereafter. A person is constituted a religions by taking three vows of chastity, of poverty, and of obedience. Among the bra elites, the vows of children were not binding, unless ratifies by the express or tacit consent of their father. Numb. xxx.
2. A solemn promise; as, the vows of unchangeable love and fidelity. In a moral and religious sense, vows are promise: to God, as they appeal to God to witness their sincerity and the violation of them is a most heinous offense.