Oath

Traditionally an oath (from Anglo-Saxon , also called plight) is either a statement of fact or a promise with wording relating to something considered sacred as a sign of verity. A common legal substitute for those who conscientiously object to making sacred oaths is to give an affirmation instead. Nowadays, even when there's no notion of sanctity involved, certain promises said out loud in ceremonial or juridical purpose are referred to as oaths. To is a verb used to describe the taking of an oath, to making a solemn vow.

An oath is a solemn promise or attestation of truth, types of which include:

• Hippocratic Oath, an oath historically taken by physicians and other healthcare professionals swearing to practice medicine honestly
• Oath of allegiance, an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to monarch or country
• Oath of citizenship, an oath taken by immigrants that officially naturalizes immigrants into citizens
• Oath of office, an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office
• Pauper's oath, a sworn statement or oath by a person that he or she is completely without any money or property
• Veterinarian's Oath, an oath taken by veterinarians as practitioners of veterinary medicine in a manner similar to the Hippocratic Oath