Avow

//əˈvaʊ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    avowal obsolete

    "without thy Knowledge and Avow"

Verb
  1. 1
    To declare openly and boldly, as something believed to be right; to own, acknowledge or confess frankly. transitive

    "[…] in 1786, and for some period later, there were few, if any, prominent Americans, who avowed themselves in favor of broadly democratic systems."

  2. 2
    admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about wordnet
  3. 3
    To bind or devote by a vow. transitive

    "No man may halewe and avowe the firste gendrid thingis that perteynen to the Lord, whether it is oxe, whether scheep, tho ben the Lordis part."

  4. 4
    to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true wordnet
  5. 5
    To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See avowry.

    "avow himself the accomplice of his crimes"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English avowen, from Old French avouer, from Latin advocare (“to call to, call upon, hence to call as a witness, defender, patron, or advocate”), from ad (“to”) + vocare (“to call”). Doublet of advoke, avouch, and advocate. Not related to vow.

Etymology 2

From Middle English avowen, from Old French avouer, from Latin advocare (“to call to, call upon, hence to call as a witness, defender, patron, or advocate”), from ad (“to”) + vocare (“to call”). Doublet of advoke, avouch, and advocate. Not related to vow.

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