(verb) : vŏvĕo, vōvi, vōtum, 2, and n. etym. dub.
* To vow, i. e. to promise solemnly or sacredly; to devote, dedicate, consecrate something to a deity (syn.: promitto, recipio, dico, dedico).
* Lit.: neque Herculi quisquam decumam vovit umquam,Cic. N. D. 3, 36, 88: sua capita pro salute patriae,id. Fin. 5, 22, 64: Tullus in re trepidā decem vovit Salios fanaque Pallori ac Pavori,Liv. 1, 27, 7: tibi hinc decimam partem praedae voveo,id. 5, 21, 2: templum Junoni,id. 5, 22, 7: vota vovere,Plaut. Am. 3, 2, 66: vota puer solvit, quae femina voverat,Ov. M. 9, 794: votum pro militibus,Liv. 23, 19, 28.—With acc. and inf.: cum sues puer pasceret, unā ex iis amissā vovisse dicitur, si recuperavisset, uvam se deo daturum, quae maxima esset in vineā,Cic. Div. 1, 17, 31; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 55, § 123; id. Inv. 2, 31, 95: aut pro victimis homines immolant aut se immolaturos vovent,Caes. B. G. 6, 16: me inferre Veneri vovi jam jentaculum,Plaut. Curc. 1, 1, 72: dictator ludos magnos vovit Vejis captis se facturum,Liv. 5, 19, 6: ludos donaque facturum vovit,id. 31, 9, 10; 42, 28, 9. —With ut and subj., Just. 21, 3, 2.—Part. perf.: at earum templa sunt publice vota et dedicata,Cic. N. D. 3, 17, 43: ludi,Liv. 4, 12, 2: pro reditu victima,Ov. Am. 2, 11, 46: Tyrrheno vindemia regi (Mezentio),i. e. solemnly promised,id. F. 4, 893.—Absol.: manus leviter pandata, qualis voventium est,Quint. 11, 3, 100.
* Transf. (from the wish implied in every vow), to wish, wish for a thing (in the verb. finit. rare, and only poet.; syn. opto): elige, quid voveas,Ov. M. 12, 200: quae modo voverat, odit,id. ib. 11, 128: quid voveat dulci nutricula majus alumno?Hor. Ep. 1, 4, 8.— With ut: ut tua sim voveo,Ov. M. 14, 35: quae voveam, duo sunt: minimo ut relevere labore, etc.,id. ib. 9, 675.