xkcd.WTF!?

Explanation ➲

The Hippocratic Oath is an "oath" of ethics taken by some medical professionals, which includes the phrase "do no harm". Technically, the exact phrase "first, do no harm" is not in the oath, but this meaning is implied.

The full Hippocratic Oath can be seen at the Wikipedia article.

Randall takes other words that sound similar to "Hippocratic" and creates "oaths" for them.

• Hyperbaric means "of, relating to, or utilizing greater than normal pressure", so thus a "hyperbaric oath" would indeed involve getting used to (acclimating to) a different pressure.
• Holographic refers to three-dimensional projected images seen in science fiction movies such as Star Wars, in which the image typically shimmers (as a cue to the audience that they are looking at a hologram and not a real thing). Not to be confused with real-life holography, which is a method of storing and reproducing wave patterns.
• Histrionics is "exaggerated, overemotional behaviour, especially when calculated to elicit a response".
• Hydroelectricity is producing energy using water power, typically using turbines.
• A hippodrome is an arena that was historically used for chariot racing and horse racing.
• Hypnagogia is "the state immediately before falling asleep". The phenomenon of jolting awake just as one is about to fall asleep is sometimes referred to as a hypnagogic jerk or hypnic jerk. According to 371: Compiler Complaint, this is essentially the human equivalent to a segfault.
• A hypergolic propellant is a type of rocket propellant which doesn't need a spark to ignite, and spontaneously combusts when mixing the parts together. Normal rocket propellant, such as RP-1 and liquid oxygen, requires some sort of initial spark to start the reaction.
• (title text) Hermeneutics is the study of interpreting texts, thus the "Hermeneutic Oath" could have several interpretations as to its meaning.