OATH

An external pledge or a ever a- \.lon, made in verification of statements made or to be made, coupled with an appeal to a sacred or venerated object, in evidence of the serious and reverent state of mind of the. party, or with an invocation to a supreme being to witne the words of the pa.rty and to visit him with punishment if th11y be false. See O'Reilly v. People, 86 N. Y. 154, 40 Am. Rep. 525; Atwood v. Welton, 7 0onn. 70; Clinton v. State, 33 Ohio St. 32; Brock v. Milligan, 10 Ohio, 123; Blocker Y. Burne , 2 Ala. 354. A religious a everation, by which a person 1·enounces the mercy and imprecates the vengeance -of heaven, if he do not speak the truth. 1 Leach, 430. -A ertory oath, One relating to a past or pres~nt fact or state of facts, as distinguished from a "promi ory" oath which relates to fa. ture conduct; particularly, any oath required by law other than in judicial proceedings and upon induction to office, such, for example, as an oath to be made at the custom-house relative to goods tmported.--Oorporal oath. See COB• POBAL.-l>eci■o17 oath. In the civil 'law, An oath which one of the parties defers or.refers back to the other for the.decision of the cause.-btrafudicial oath, One not taken In any judicia proceeding or without any au- 1 thoricy_ or reqmrement ot law, though -taken fe.cmall7 before a propu person.--.Judicdal [s. 846]