Meaning

noun profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

noun a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of law); to lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury

noun a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior

originFrom Middle English ooth, oth, ath, from Old English āþ (“oath”), from Proto-West Germanic *aiþ (“oath”), from Proto-Germanic *aiþaz (“oath”). Cognate with Scots aith, athe (“oath”), North Frisian ith, iss (“oath”), Saterland Frisian Eed (“oath”), West Frisian eed (“oath”), Dutch eed (“oath”), German Eid (“oath”), Swedish ed (“oath”), Icelandic eið (“oath”), Latin ūtor (“make use of, employ,…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0