{
    "term": "oath",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a formal promise to do something or a formal statement that something is true",
            "labels": "(especially North American English)(especially British English)(North American English)(British English)(especially British English)(North American English)(British English)(especially North American English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **take/swear an oath** of allegiance"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Before giving evidence, witnesses in court have to **take the oath** *(= promise to tell the truth)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The next US president will take the **oath of office** in January."
                },
                {
                    "text": "All members had to swear a solemn oath never to reveal the secrets of the organization."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You are bound by oath to tell the truth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Only a judge is allowed to administer the oath."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a doctor's Hippocratic oath"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + oath": ["administer"],
                "preposition": ["on oath", "under oath"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "an offensive word or phrase used to express anger, surprise, etc.; a swear word",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She heard the sound of breaking glass, followed by a muttered oath."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "having made a formal promise to tell the truth in court",
            "labels": "(law)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Is she prepared to give evidence on oath?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The judge reminded the witness that he was still under oath."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have sworn under oath that you never met this man."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əʊθ/",
                "audio": "oa/oath/oath__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əʊðz/",
                "audio": "oa/oath/oaths__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əʊθ/",
                "audio": "oa/oath/oath__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əʊðz/",
                "audio": "oa/oath/oaths__us_1_rr.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English āth, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eed and German Eid."
}