oath

/əʊθ/ (bre, ipa) · /əʊθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈōth/ (ame, mw)

oath — 名詞

  • oathsingular
  • oathsplural

1. a serious commitment a person makes, often in a courtroom or at the start of an

1.名詞B2
釋義

誓言

在法庭或就職時所做的莊重承諾

a serious commitment a person makes, often in a courtroom or at the start of an official job, stating they will do something or speak honestly

例句

The witness placed her hand on the Bible and swore an oath before the judge questioned her.

證人將手放在聖經上宣誓，然後法官才開始訊問她。

collocation: swear an oath

All newly elected members of parliament must take an oath of allegiance to the constitution.

所有新當選的國會議員都必須宣誓效忠憲法。

collocation: take an oath of [allegiance]

同義詞
  • pledge

    less formal; can be about any commitment, not necessarily with legal or religious weight

  • vow

    more personal or spiritual, e.g. marriage vows or religious vows; stronger emotional weight

  • promise

    everyday term; no legal consequence attached

文法句型

swear/take + an oath

oath of + noun phrase (oath of office)

oath to + infinitive (oath to tell the truth)

用法筆記

Frequently used with the verbs 'swear,' 'take,' or 'administer.' An oath may be religious (sworn on a sacred text) or secular (a simple verbal promise). Distinguish from Sense 2 (UNDER OATH): this sense refers to the promise itself as a countable object you can take or break, while Sense 2 describes the legal status of a person who has already sworn.

常見錯誤

❌The witness made an oath to saying the truth.
✅The witness swore an oath to tell the truth.
💡'Swear an oath' is the correct verb, and the structure is 'swear an oath to + bare infinitive,' not 'to + -ing.'

2. the binding situation a person is in after making a formal commitment to be hone

2.名詞B2
釋義

宣誓後

經宣誓後須誠實作證的法律狀態

the binding situation a person is in after making a formal commitment to be honest, so that any false statement in a courtroom becomes a crime

例句

Santi answered every question truthfully while under oath in the federal courtroom.

Santi 在聯邦法庭上宣誓後，如實回答了每一個問題。

fixed phrase: under oath

The former employee admitted under oath that she had taken confidential files home without permission.

那名前員工在宣誓後承認，她未經許可將機密文件帶回家。

同義詞
  • on the record

    less formal; refers to any official statement, not necessarily with legal consequences for lying

  • under penalty of perjury

    more formal and technical; explicitly states the punishment for dishonesty

文法句型

under oath

on oath

while under oath

place someone under oath

用法筆記

Nearly always appears in the fixed phrases 'under oath' or 'on oath' with no article — never 'under the oath.' To say a person 'is under oath' means they are legally bound to tell the truth and can face prosecution for perjury if caught in a lie. Distinguish from Sense 1 (FORMAL PROMISE): Sense 1 is the promise itself as a countable thing; this sense is the legal status created by having made that promise.

常見錯誤

❌He told the truth under the oath.
✅He told the truth under oath.
💡No article — 'under oath' is a fixed phrase that never takes 'the.'

3. a word that people consider rude or blasphemous, typically using a sacred name,

3.名詞B1
釋義

髒話

表達憤怒或驚訝的粗俗用語

a word that people consider rude or blasphemous, typically using a sacred name, and said when someone is angry, shocked, or hurt

例句

Takuya let out a loud oath when the ladder slipped and his knee hit the wall.

Takuya 的梯子滑倒、膝蓋重重撞上牆壁時，他脫口罵了一句大聲的髒話。

collocation: let out an oath

Valentina muttered a quiet oath after spilling coffee all over her new white shirt.

Valentina 把咖啡灑滿自己全新的白襯衫後，低聲咕噥了一句髒話。

collocation: mutter an oath

同義詞
  • swear word

    more common in modern usage; covers all offensive language, not only religious references

  • curse

    overlaps in meaning; often implies a wish for harm on someone, but also used for any swear word

  • profanity

    more formal; specifically refers to language that shows disrespect for religion or sacred things

文法句型

utter/mutter/shout + an oath

a string/stream of oaths

用法筆記

This sense originally referred specifically to offensive uses of God's or Jesus Christ's name, but in modern English it covers swear words of any kind. 'Oath' in this meaning is less common in everyday speech than 'swear word' or 'curse.' Such language is considered rude in most social settings and may be bleeped on television.

常見錯誤

❌He swore a bad oath at the driver who cut him off.
✅He shouted an oath at the driver who cut him off.
💡'Swear an oath' means to make a formal promise (Sense 1); for offensive language, use 'utter an oath' or 'shout an oath.'