pledge vs vow

pledge

verb
  • To make a solemn promise (to do something). 

  • To deposit something as a security; to pawn. 

  • To give assurance of friendship by the act of drinking; to drink to one's health. 

noun
  • A solemn promise to do something. 

  • The personal property so pledged, to be kept until the debt is paid. 

  • A bailment of personal property to secure payment of a debt without transfer of title. 

  • A person who has taken a pledge of allegiance to a college fraternity, but is not yet formally approved. 

  • A drinking toast. 

  • An asset or person temporarily handed over to guarantee the fulfilment of something promised, under threat of permanent loss of the thing handed over; surety, security, hostage. 

  • A promise to abstain from drinking alcohol. 

vow

verb
  • To make a vow; to promise. 

  • To declare publicly that one has made a vow, usually to show one's determination or to announce an act of retaliation. 

  • To make a vow regarding (something). 

noun
  • A solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order. 

  • A declaration or assertion. 

How often have the words pledge and vow occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )