%oath%

n. One who tends goats. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

An oath said to have been dictated by Hippocrates to his disciples. Such an oath is still administered to candidates for graduation in medicine. [ PJC ]

☞ An English translation of the oath reads:

I swear by Apollo the physician, by Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that according to my ability and my judgement, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation -- to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others.

I will follow that system or regimen which, according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.

I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.

With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.

Whatever, in connection with my professional service, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.

While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot.

a. [ OE. looth, loth, AS. lāð hostile, odious; akin to OS. lāð, G. leid, Icel. leiðr, Sw. led, G. leiden to suffer, OHG. līdan to suffer, go, cf. AS. līðan to go, Goth. leipan, and E. lead to guide. ] 1. Hateful; odious; disliked. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Filled with disgust or aversion; averse; unwilling; reluctant; as, loath to part. [ 1913 Webster ]

Full loth were him to curse for his tithes. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Loathed p. pr. & vb. n. Loathing. ] [ AS. lāðian to hate. See Loath. ] 1. To feel extreme disgust at, or aversion for. [ 1913 Webster ]

Loathing the honeyed cakes, I Ionged for bread. Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dislike greatly; to abhor; to hate; to detest. [ 1913 Webster ]

The secret which I loathe. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

She loathes the vital sir. Dryden.

Syn. -- To hate; abhor; detest; abominate. See Hate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To feel disgust or nausea. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who loathes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Full of loathing; hating; abhorring. “Loathful eyes.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Causing a feeling of loathing; disgusting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Above the reach of loathful, sinful lust. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Extreme disgust; a feeling of aversion, nausea, abhorrence, or detestation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mutual fear and loathing of the hostile races. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With loathing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Loathsomeness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. lāðlic. ] Loathsome. [ Obs. ] “ Loathly mouth.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. Unwillingly; reluctantly. [ 1913 Webster ]

This shows that you from nature loathly stray. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. def>So as to cause loathing. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Unwillingness; reluctance. [ 1913 Webster ]

A general silence and loathness to speak. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Fitted to cause loathing; exciting disgust; disgusting; as, a loathsome disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most loathsome and deadly forms of infection. Macaulay.

-- Loath"some*ly. adv. -- Loath"some*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Loathsome. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Oaths [ OE. othe, oth, ath, AS. āð; akin to D. eed, OS. ēð, G. eid, Icel. eiðr, Sw. ed, Dan. eed, Goth. aiþs; cf. OIr. oeth. ] 1. A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. “I have an oath in heaven” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

An oath of secrecy for the concealing of those [ inventions ] which we think fit to keep secret. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A solemn affirmation, connected with a sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the temple, the altar, the blood of Abel, the Bible, the Koran, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) An appeal (in verification of a statement made) to a superior sanction, in such a form as exposes the party making the appeal to an indictment for perjury if the statement be false. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A careless and blasphemous use of the name of the divine Being, or anything divine or sacred, by way of appeal or as a profane exclamation or ejaculation; an expression of profane swearing. “A terrible oath” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of having an oath administered to. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]