口くち固がため

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

verbal promise; pledge

Dated term for a firm oral promise or vow, often with a sense of sealing one's word. Modern Japanese more commonly uses 約束 or 誓い.

• 昔むかしの武ぶ士しは口くち固がためを重おもんじた。

  Samurai of old valued verbal promises.

• 口くち固がためをして、必かならず戻もどると誓ちかった。

  He made a verbal pledge and swore he would definitely return.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

forbidding someone from telling others; swearing to secrecy

Dated term for making someone promise not to disclose something; akin to a gag order or confidentiality pledge. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.

• 密みつ談だんの前まえに、全ぜん員いんに口くち固がためをした。

  Before the secret talk, he made everyone swear to secrecy.

• 口くち固がためがなければ、この話はなしは外そとに漏もれていただろう。

  Without the gag order, this story would have leaked out.