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avow
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
avow
verb
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ I believe that there is an authentic beauty in science and this is fervently avowed by many scientists.
▪ Others avow that he intentionally distorted the trial.
▪ We worked with one hotel chain that avowed to the point of dementia its commitment to customer service and comfort.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Avow

Avow \A*vow"\, n. A vow or determination. [Archaic]

Avow

Avow \A*vow"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Avowing.] [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) To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See Avowry.
    --Blackstone.

    Syn: To acknowledge; own; confess. See Confess.

Avow

Avow \A*vow"\, n. [Cf. F. aveu.] Avowal. [Obs.]
--Dryden.

Avow

Avow \A*vow"\, v. t. & i. [OF. avouer, fr. LL. votare to vow, fr. L. votun. See Vote, n.] To bind, or to devote, by a vow. [Obs.]
--Wyclif.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
avow

early 13c., from Anglo-French avouer, Old French avoer "acknowledge, accept, recognize," especially as a protector (Modern French avouer), from Latin advocare (see advocate). A synonym of avouch (q.v.), which tends to contain the more technical, legal aspect of the word. Related: Avowed; avowing.

Wiktionary
avow

n. (context obsolete English) avowal vb. 1 (context transitive English) To declare openly and boldly, as something believed to be right; to own, acknowledge or confess frankly. 2 (context transitive English) To bind or devote by a vow. 3 (context legal English) To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See (term avowry English).

WordNet
avow
  1. v. to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" [syn: affirm, verify, assert, aver, swan, swear]

  2. admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about [syn: avouch] [ant: disavow]

Usage examples of "avow".

They will verify the truth of the oracle immediately, and when it is found that the famous diamond is but glittering paste the company will adore my father, for it will feel that but for him it would have been covered with shame, by avowing itself the dupe of a sharper.

I was a confirmed agnostic and avowed disbeliever in all things spiritual and occult.

The atheistical works of Robert Ingersoll were not purchased by the rank and file of the Republican Party for purposes of party propaganda, but the rank and file of the Revolutionary Party spend large sums of money on publications in which their avowed leaders teach atheism as part of the Socialist program.

Berlinton, and without mentioning she had seen whence the paper came, said she had found it upon the stairs: for even those who have too little delicacy to attribute to treachery a clandestine indulgence of curiosity, have a certain instinctive sense of its unfairness, which they evince without avowing, by the care with which they soften their motives, or their manner, of according themselves this species of gratification.

Even her debts, now, she felt equal to avowing, for as, far from contracting new ones, she meant in future to reside in complete obscurity, she hoped the feelings of this moment would procure pardon for her indiscretions, which her own sedulous future oeconomy should be indefatigable to repair.

They openly denied the existence of any disembodied souls, avowing that men utterly perished in the grave.

The gross contradiction of the common doctrine of hell to the spirit of love is so obvious that its advocates, unable to deny or conceal it, have often positively proclaimed it, avowing that, in respect to the wicked, God is changed into a consuming fire full of hatred and vengeance.

Johnson had been copiously illustrating the guilt of treason, and avowing his intention to punish traitors with the severest penalty known to the law, Mr.

Professing no repentance, glorying apparently in the crime they had committed, avowing still, as the uncontradicted testimony of Mr.

Jefferson, by simply avowing themselves to be members of the party that had elected him.

Missouri, while avowing her purpose to adhere to the Union, had asserted her right to exercise supreme control over her domestic affairs, and this put her in the category of a State threatened by the proceedings of the United States Government.

For if any of the commoners were to make avowry for beasts taken in the common pasture it would then follow that if the Inquest were to pass against the plaintiff, he who avowed the taking in the common pasture would have the return of the beasts and the amends, and not the lord of the pasture, and that would be improper.

The emperor Gallienus, who had long supported with impatience the censorial severity of his father and colleague, received the intelligence of his misfortunes with secret pleasure and avowed indifference.

In his mild and conciliatory inaugural address, while appealing to the seceding States to return to their allegiance, he avowed his purpose to keep the solemn oath he had taken that day, to see that the laws of the Union were faithfully executed, and to use the troops to recover the forts, navy yards, and other property belonging to the government.

He had never gone ratting about the countryside with Hickory Lee, and when this Korean woman invaded the Bali Hai with the avowed intention, some said, of sleeping with the entire contingent, she had been assured by the other wives that her husband would have nothing to do with her.