different between lisp vs vow

English

Alternative forms

• lipsey
• lithp (humorous)

Etymology

From Middle English lispen, lipsen, wlispen, from Old English *wlispian (attested in ?wlyspian (“to lisp”)), from Old English wlisp, wlips (“stammering, lisping”, adj), from Proto-Germanic *wlispaz (“lisping”), from Proto-Indo-European *wlis-, *wleys- (“rod”), from *wel- (“to turn, roll”). Cognate with Middle Low German wlispen (“to lisp”), Dutch lispen (“to lisp”), German lispeln (“to lisp”), Danish læspe (“to lisp”), Swedish läspa (“to lisp”).

Pronunciation

• Standard: IPA^(key): /l?sp/
• Humorous:
  1. IPA^(key): /l??p/
  2. IPA^(key): /l?l?sp/
• Rhymes: -?sp

Noun

lisp (plural lisps)

1. The habit or an act of lisping.

Derived terms

• lispy

Translations

Verb

lisp (third-person singular simple present lisps, present participle lisping, simple past and past participle lisped)

1. To pronounce the consonant ‘s’ imperfectly; to give ‘s’ and ‘z’ the sounds of ‘th’ (/?/, /ð/). This is a speech impediment common among children.

2. To speak with imperfect articulation; to mispronounce, such as a child learning to talk.
3. (archaic) To speak hesitatingly and with a low voice, as if afraid.
   • 1597, Michael Drayton, England's Heroical Epistles

     Lest when my lisping, guilty tongue should halt.

4. (archaic) to express by the use of simple, childlike language.
   • 1848, Henry Walter (editor) William Tyndale (originally author), Doctrinal Treatises and Introductions to Different Portions of the Holy Scriptures

     to speak unto them after their own capacity, and to lisp the words unto them , according as the babes and children of that age might sound them againagain
5. (archaic) To speak with reserve or concealment; to utter timidly or confidentially.
   • 1859, Ferna Vale, Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds

     "You have done well, sir," said Delwood, calmly, as he placed double the amount of Mrs. Santon's bribe in the Signor's hand; "you have done well, sir; and mark my words,—gold can never relieve a guilty conscience! Go, sir, and see that you lisp not a syllable of this to any one."

Derived terms

• lisper

Translations

See also

• brogue
• drawl
• lallation
• lilt
• twang

Anagrams

• LIPs, LSPI, lips, pils, slip

English

Etymology

From Middle English vowe, voue, that from Old French vut, in turn from Latin v?tum (“a promise, dedication, vow”), from vov?re (“to promise, vow”). Doublet of vote.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va?/
• Rhymes: -a?

Noun

vow (plural vows)

1. 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.

2. A declaration or assertion.
3. (obsolete) A votive offering.
   • 1786, Richard Payne Knight, The Worship of Priapus:

     There are also waxen vows, that represent other parts of the body mixed with them; but of these there are few in comparison of the number of the Priapi.

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

Translations

Verb

vow (third-person singular simple present vows, present participle vowing, simple past and past participle vowed)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To make a vow; to promise.

   • When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it.

   • 1673, Richard Baxter, Christian Directory

     We do not vow that we will never sin, nor neglect a duty (nor ought we to do so).

2. (transitive) To make a vow regarding (something).

   The wronged woman vowed revenge.

3. 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.

Translations

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• vow in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• vow in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• vow at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• WOV, WVO