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Vow vs Votary - What's the difference?

vow | votary |

As nouns the difference between vow and votary

is that vow is a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order while votary is a person, such as a monk or nun, who lives a religious life according to vows they have made.

As a verb vow

is (ambitransitive) to make a vow; to promise.

As an adjective votary is

consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.

vow

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order.
  • A declaration or assertion.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-14, author= Sam Leith
    • , volume=189, issue=1, page=37, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Where the profound meets the profane , passage=Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself.}}

    Usage notes

    * One normally makes'' or ''takes'' a vow, or simply ''vows (see below). * Commonly mentioned vows include those of silence'', ''obedience'', ''poverty'', ''chastity'', and ''celibacy . * 'to keep/pay/fulfill a vow' = to honor a vow * 'to break a vow' = to dishonor a vow

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To make a vow; to promise.
  • * Bible, Eccl. v. 4
    • When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it.
  • * Richard Baxter
    • We do not vow that we will never sin, nor neglect a duty (nor ought we to do so).
  • To make a vow regarding (something).
    • The wronged woman vowed revenge.
  • To declare publicly that one has made a vow, usually to show one's determination or to announce an act of retaliation.
    • The rebels vowed to continue their fight.

    Derived terms

    * exchange vows * take vows * vow of celibacy * vow of chastity * vow of silence * vow of poverty

    Related terms

    * devote * vote * votive

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    *

    votary

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom.

    Noun

    (votaries)
  • A person, such as a monk or nun, who lives a religious life according to vows they have made
  • A devotee of a particular religion or cult
  • A devout or zealous worshipper
  • Someone who is devoted to a particular pursuit etc; an enthusiast.
  • * 1922 , (James Joyce), Chapter 13
  • *:Gerty was dressed simply but with the instinctive taste of a votary of Dame Fashion for she felt that there was just a might that he might be out.

    • Quotations

    ;enthusiast *1893, , Collaboration [http://www.henryjames.org.uk/collab/CLtext.htm] *: He is such a votary of the modern that he was inevitably interested in the girl of the future and had matched one reform with another, being ready to marry without a penny, as the clearest way of expressing his appreciation, this favourable specimen of the type.