I.to vow, i. e. to promise solemnly or sacredly; to devote, dedicate, consecrate something to a deity (syn.: promitto, recipio, dico, dedico).
I. 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.—
II. 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.