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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vow, Wow(e, v.¹ Also: vou. P.t. also woude. [ME and e.m.E. voud p.t. (Cursor M.), vowe (Manning), vouwe (Wyclif), vow (Shakespere), OF vouer, vower; Avow v.¹]

1. tr. To make a solemn promise or undertaking (to someone or something), with what is promised as direct object; to dedicate oneself to (something). b. reflex. Also const. unto.(1) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 248.
He … bydis man kep weill gif he ocht wowis 1490 Irland Mir. I 73/5.
And the persoune that sal be his moder may wow and keip virginite 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1208 (Ch.).
I grant ȝon ladie hes vowit chastitie, For hir professioun thairto sould accord 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1966.
I will pas now to the Halie land [etc.] … This vowit this knicht 1562-3 Winȝet I 112/2.
Gif it be lesum or nocht that men of perfite aige haifand na lauchful impediment, to wow chastitie 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII 239.
Quhiche I uou and promeisis upon my honoure(2) a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.319.
To hevin I wowe my hairt and handb. 1566–7 Reg. Privy S. V ii 303/2.
Be ressoun of ony singular life that the said Maister Gilbert hes wowit and bound him self to a1578 Pitsc. II 71/25.
Thay vowit thame sellffis to the estait of dampnatioun 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 219.
The saide witches … confessed, that when the Devill did recyeve them for his servauntes, and that they had vowed themselves unto him [etc.]

2. To make a solemn undertaking. a. That one would (suld, sall) carry out some action or attain some goal. b. To do (or be) something. Also const. to (= upon) a dedicatory object and unto the desired goal. c. absol.a. c1475 Wall. xi 304.
His haill mynd, manheid, and hye curage Was playnly set to wyn out off bondage Scotland agayn … He woude he suld, or ellis de tharfor 1533 Gau 13/10.
Thay quhilk sweris be ane ewil ws … siclik thay that sweris and wowis that thay sal dw ony ewil a1578 Pitsc. II 10/20.
King Harie … vowit to God … he sould be rewengit on the towne of Edinburgh 1600 Acts IV 206/1.
I wow to God … I sall die first 1622 Crim. Trials III 525.
I vow to God I sall do to ȝe ane evill turne 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 115/12.
Then on his tombe I uou Sall be heir lyis quhom Bachus be his uine Hes trappit firstb. (1) a1500 Seven S. 487.
To the haly land wowit he For evir a pilgryme for to be c1490 Irland Asl. MS 41/1.
And thow haue wowit to fast Fryday … ȝit thow suld kepe thi wow 1596 Dalr. II 13/12.
To God he had vowit, with ane armie to invade the Saracenis gif he had lyfe 1635 Lundie Poems 12.
Vesta … Velcoms the cuming of the tender spring And vous er long hir colours to display(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 96/19.
That ȝe had vowit to the swan, Ane ȝeir to be Johne Thomsounis man(3) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 234.
In persute of revenge of his mothers murther committit be Ingland, whareunto thay solemnitlie vowit to assist with men and money [etc.]c. a1500 Seven S. 1982.
Sone efter quhar he had wowit In pilgrimage is passit a1500 Seven S. 2078.
He brak his spere in thre And in the halyland wowit he

3. To make a solemn undertaking as to the truth of something expressed in a that clause (also with omission of that). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2552.
To God I vow that ȝe sall rew this rais 1570 Sat. P. xiv 88.
I wow to thé … Thay sall not mys ane riche rewaird a1585 Maitl. Q. 242/19.
My ladie I dar vow, in bewtie all doeth pas 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
Johnne Gordounes wyiff wowit in hir face that scho gaif command [etc.]