Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Avow, Awow, v.¹ Also: avou, awou. [ME. avowe (1303), awowe, OF. avouer, f. vouer, late L. vōtāre.]

1. intr. To make a vow (to do something, or with that).a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 313 (thai come to sancte Nicholas, as before awouyt had thai); xl. 1174 (I consel ȝow, to sancte Niniane ȝet ȝe awou). c1420 Wynt. iii. 116 (Jopte awowyt that he sulde … ); v. 4563 (he awowyd devotly for to becummyn Crystyn man). c1475 Wall. vii. 735 (Wallace awowide that he suld wrokyn be). 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 44 (I awow and heir promittys Lawsus forto cleith with spulȝe); 1533 Bell. Livy I. 64/25 (Tullus avowit to big twa tempillis). 15.. Clar. v. 1092 (scho avowit unto the powne). 1611-57 Mure I. 48/5 (heir I avou thyne ewer to remaine).

2. tr. To undertake or promise with a vow.a1400 Leg. S. x. 319 (schow awouyt chastyte). c1450-2 Howlat 443 (the rayke he avowit to the haly graif). c1475 Wall. vi. 216 (that I awow to the makar off mycht). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 64/23 (Tullus avowit xij preistis to be dedicate to Mars). 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 170/26 (bischopis and preistis auoued chastitie). 1622-6 Bisset II. 366 (nane suld be admitted unles he awowed chaistitie).