Obs. Forms: 4–7 avow(e, ? also 6 aduowe. [a. ? OF. avoue-r, avoer (Palsgr. aduouer), f. à to + vouer:—late Lat. vōtāre (cf. Pr. vodar, and cl.L. dē-vōt-āre), freq. of vovē-re, vōt-um, to vow. Already in OF. the two vbs. avouer were confounded; Littré has only that from advocāre.]
1. trans. To put (one) to a vow or oath, to bind with a vow (to some act, to do something).
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 7647. Þese lordynges, Þat avowe here men to do swych þynges.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xxiii. 14. With deuocioun we han avowid vs to no thing tastinge, til we slen Poul. [Vulg. devotione devovimus nos nihil gustaturos.]
2. To devote, consecrate, dedicate by a vow (a person or thing to God, or to some solemn purpose).
1382. Wyclif, Lev. xxvii. 16. If the feelde … he auowe [Vulg. voverit] & halowe to the Lord.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 107. To avowe her children vnto God and holy chirche.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. 49. Tullus … avowit XII preistis … to be perpetualy dedicate to Mars.
1583. A. Conham, in Babington’s Commandm., To Reader ***b. Hee … as it were aduowed himselfe a man to the Lord, to serve in his Tabernacle.
3. intr. (from refl.) To bind oneself by a vow, to take a vow (to an act or to do something).
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 333. I dewoutly awowe þat veray betz halden Soberly to do þe sacrafyse.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, C. iij b. She … repentyd her and auowed to many pylgremages.
1531. Dial Laws Eng., II. liv. (1638), 164. If a man avow never to eat white meat.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 13. The three Romans … who for the safeguard of their Countrey auowed to dye.
b. absol. or with subord. cl. To make a vow.
c. 1400. Melayne, 733. I a-vowe to mylde marie … I sall noghte leve the soo.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 19. Auowyn, or to make auowe, Voueo.
1493. Festyvall (W. de W., 1515), 93. He that hath avowed or ioyned in penaunce must fast the even.
1594. R. Parsons, Confer. Success., I. v. 109. I do promisse and auow to euery one of you and to euery church to you committed, that I wil kepe and mainteyne al canonical priuileges [etc.].
4. trans. a. with cogn. obj. To vow.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VIII. 13. Ich haue a-vowed vowes fourty · and for-ȝut hem a morwe.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 285/3. Auowe ye vowes and yelde them to god.
b. with ordinary obj.: To vow to give, keep, observe, do; to promise or undertake with a vow.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 355. And unto Mars avoyth sacrifice.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 11. Than she avowed chastite.
1539. Act 31 Hen. VIII., vi. Suche as haue auowed religion.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 218. Auowing continual war against the Abessine Christians.
