AVOW

avow, avouch

(verb) admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about

affirm, verify, assert, avow, aver, swan, swear

(verb) to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; “Before God I swear I am innocent”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

avow (third-person singular simple present avows, present participle avowing, simple past and past participle avowed)

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

(transitive) To bind or devote by a vow.

(legal) To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See avowry.

Antonyms

• disavow

Noun

avow

(obsolete) avowal

Source: Wiktionary

A*vow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avowed (p. pr. & vb. n. Avowing.] Etym: [F. avouver, fr. L. advocare to call to (whence the meanings, to call upon as superior; recognize as lord, own, confess); ad + vocare to call. See Advocate, Avouch.]

1. To declare openly, as something believed to be right; to own or acknowledge frankly; as, a man avows his principles or his crimes. Which I to be the of Israel's God Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test. Milton.

2. (Law)

Definition: To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See Avowry. Blackstone.

Syn.

– To acknowledge; own; confess. See Confess.

A*vow", n, Etym: [Cf. F. aveu.]

Definition: Avowal. [Obs.] Dryden.

A*vow", v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. avouer, fr. LL. votare to vow, fr. L. votun. See Vote, n.]

Definition: To bind, or to devote, by a vow. [Obs.] Wyclif.

A*vow", n.

Definition: A vow or determination. [Archaic]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition