Oath
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Oath. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
oth, a solemn agreement, calling upon the name of the deity, to fulfill some promise, to tell the truth in court, or to discharge the duties of an office. The practice of taking an oath has its roots in the remotest antiquity. The jungleman of India places his hand on the skin of a tiger and calls upon the wild beast to devour him if he fails of his word. The modern Hindu passes his word above a basin of water from the sacred Ganges. The African negro swears by his head, his arm, or his leg, calling upon it to wither if he fail to keep his promise. The ancient Carthaginian took oath by the sun, moon, and stars; the Greek, by Zeus; the Roman, by Jupiter. The Shoshone Indian says "The earth hears me, the sun sees me; shall I lie?" The Chinese kill a chicken and swear by its dripping blood. The Siamese Buddhist not only calls down death upon himself, but desires that he may afterward be cast into hell to go through immortal tortures, among them to carry water over the flames in a wicker basket to assuage the thirst of the infernal judge, then that he may migrate into the body of a slave for as many years as there are grains of sand in four seas, and after this that he may be born a beast through five hundred generations. Joseph placed his hand under Jacob's thigh in the land of Goshen and promised to take him home to the burial place of his fathers. Agamemnon uplifted his hands, and took heaven to witness. The Danes took oath on the holy ring or bracelet to quit King Alfred's kingdom. Although Christ said, "Swear not at all," it was the custom of the medieval Christians to take oath on the holy cross. The Scotch witness raises his right hand with, "I swear by God Almighty." The English witness closes his oath by kissing the Book, that is to say, a copy of the Holy Scriptures. Charlemagne took oath in Latin, "Sic me adjuvet, Deus." The German says, "So mir Gott helfe;" the Anglo-Saxon, "So help me, God." The sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland takes oath to obey the laws passed by Parliament and to protect the Protestant religion. The president of the United States takes oath as follows: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." The witness on the stand swears to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Quakers and others having religious scruples against the taking of an oath are permitted to make a solemn statement instead. 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22)
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a solemn affirmation or declaration made with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. By the apto the Supreme Being, the person peal peal making oath is understood to invoke His vengeance if that which is affirmed or declared is false; or, in case of a promissory oath, if the promise or obligation is willfully broken. Oaths are of two kinds: (1) Assertory oaths, or those oaths by which the truth of a statement is affirmed; as an oath sworn to the truth of an affidavit; (2) promissory oaths, or those oaths by which something is promised, or an obligation is assumed; as, the oaths of witnesses; the oath of allegiance, by which the person taking the oath promises allegiance to the government. Modern legislation has also provided particular forms of oaths, having permitted affirmations to be made by persons who have conscientious objections to take an oath. Witnesses are allowed to swear to the truth of their evidence in any way which is binding on their consciences. Also a careless and blasphemous use of the name of the Divine Being, or of anything divine or sacred, either by way of appeal or imprecation, or as a profane exclamation or ejaculation. Ex officio oath, in old English law, an oath whereby any person was obliged to make any presentment of any crime or offense, or to confess or accuse himself or herself of any criminal matter or thing, whereby he or she might be liable to any censure, penalty, or punishment whatsoever.