Lewis & Short

vōtum, i, n. [voveo].

    1. A. (Acc. to voveo, I.) A solemn promise made to some deity, a vow (freq. and class.; esp. in plur.): qui (deus) numquam nobis occurrit neque in optatis neque in votis, Cic. N. D. 1, 14, 36: nefaria vota, id. Clu. 68, 194: nonne animadvertis ex tot tabulis pictis, quam multi votis vim tempestatis effugerint? id. N. D. 3, 37, 89: voto et promisso teneri, id. Att. 12, 18, 1: obstrictum esse religione voti, id. ib. 12, 43, 2: obligari voti sponsione deo, id. Leg. 2, 16, 41: cum de illo aegroto vota faciebant, id. Att. 8, 16, 1: vota facere, id. Fam. 7, 2, 4; id. Mil. 15, 41; id. Tusc. 5, 1, 2 al.: nuncupare, id. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34: suscipere, id. N. D. 3, 39, 93: concipere, Ov. M. 7, 594; Liv. 5, 25, 7: debere diis, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 55, § 123: solvere, id. Phil. 3, 4, 11: reddere, id. Leg. 2, 9, 22: Jovi reddere, Ov. Tr. 3, 12, 46: suscipere et solvere, Plin. Ep. 10, 35 (44): persolvere, id. ib. 10, 100 (101): voto se exsolvere, Petr. 85: exsequi, Verg. A. 5, 53: voti damnari, i. e. to obtain one’s prayer or wish Liv. 5, 25, 4; 7, 28, 4; 27, 45, 8; v. Zumpt, Gram. § 447 fin.: voti reus, Verg. A. 5, 237: voti liberari, Liv. 5, 28, 1.
      1. 2. Transf.
        1. a. A thing solemnly promised, that which is vowed or devoted, a volive offering (mostly poet.): lustramurque Jovi, votisque incendimus aras, with burnt-offerings, Verg. A. 3, 279: Danai in voto (i. e. equo Trojano) latent, Petr. 89; cf.: iste … de bonis illius in aede Veneris argenteum Cupidinem posuit. Sic etiam fortunis hominum abutebatur ad nocturna vota cupiditatum suarum, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142.
        2. b. Vota, a day on which vows were made for the good of the State (post-class.), Capitol. Pert. 6; Vop. Tac. 9; cf. Dig. 50, 16, 233, § 1.
    2. B. Transf.
      1. 1. (Acc. to voveo, II.) A wish, desire, longing, prayer (perh not ante-Aug.): ea esse vota, eam esse voluntatem omnium, ut, etc., Liv. 2, 15, 3: ejus me compotem voti facere vos potestis, id. 7, 40, 6: quoniam res Romana contra spem votaque ejus velut resurgeret, id. 24, 45, 3; 35, 42, 5: quod omnibus votis petendum erat, id. 32, 21, 35: magnarum cogitationum, Petr. 115: audivere di mea vota, Hor. C. 4, 13, 1: haec loca sunt voto fertiliora tuo, Ov. A. A. 1, 90; id. Tr. 1, 2, 1: votum in amante novum, id. M. 3, 468: voti potens, id. ib. 8, 80: quod omnium sit votum parentum, ut, etc., Quint. 11, 1, 82: vota parentium, id. 1, 2, 25: id enim voto meo sufficit; illud supra votum, etc., Plin. Ep. 5, 8, 3: Darius votum meum implevit, Curt. 4, 13, 24; 4, 13, 8; Sen. Polyb. 10, 6: cunctis super vota fluentibus, Tac. H. 3, 48; Sen. Ben. 6, 30, 1: votum aliquem confodiendi, Suet. Aug. 51; cf. id. ib. 58: hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus, Hor. S. 2, 6, 1: esse in voto, Pers. 3, 48; cf.: sed hoc votum est et rara felicitas, is rather a thing to be wished, Quint. 12, 5, 6 Spald.; so, votum est, ut, etc., it is to be wished that, etc., Cels. 6, 6, 1: an venit in votum Attalicis ex urbibus una? Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 5: non sine votis: O rus, quando ego te aspiciam? id. S. 2, 6, 59.
        Of inanimate things: alioquin vota arborum frugumque communia sunt nivis diutinas sedere, Plin. 17, 2, 2, § 14.
      2. 2. A marriage vow, matrimonial engagement, marriage (post-class.): ad tertia vota migrare, Cod. Just. 5, 9, 4; 5, 5, 24; 5, 1, 2: nuptualia, App. M. 4, p. 154, 18; id. Flor. p. 342, 27.