[BREAKER sb.] One who breaks his or her vow.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 611/2. Faithful aduoutreis, faithful vowe breakers, faithfull theues.
1565. Harding, Confut., I. v. 15. To reuele the truth of his gospell by Apostates, vowebreakers, churchrobbers, and such other.
1681. Dryden, Span. Friar, II. ii. Love, you know, Father, is a great Vow-maker; but he’s a greater Vow-breaker.
1844. Mrs. Browning, That Day, iii. I stand by the river—I think of the vow—Oh, calm as the place is, vow-breaker, be thou!
So Vow-breaking vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1533. More, Apol., vi. Wks. 858/1. The vndouted faith of the whole catholike churche full fyftene hundred yeare together agaynste these vowebreakynge brethren.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1629), 97. A companie of base Rebels and vow-breaking Friers.
1624. Bedell, Lett., x. 124. As to his Vow-breaking lastly, if that Vow were foolishly made and sinfully kept, it was iustly broken.
1646. Fuller, Wounded Consc. (1841), 299. Vow-breaking, though a grievous sin, is pardonable on unfeigned repentance.
