aver

To aver is to state something or declare something is true. This verb has a serious tone, so you might aver something on a witness stand or you might aver that you won't back down to a challenge.

The verb aver comes to English via the Latin root words ad, meaning "to," and verus, meaning "true." The word can have the sense of formally declaring something is true, but it can also mean to report positively: "The grandmother averred that her granddaughter would make a fine veterinarian because of her love and caring for animals."

Definitions of aver
  1. verb
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
    synonyms: affirm, assert, avow, swan, swear, verify
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    types:
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    hold
    assert or affirm
    claim, take
    lay claim to; as of an idea
    attest
    authenticate; affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity
    declare
    state firmly
    protest
    affirm or avow formally or solemnly
    assure, tell
    inform positively and with certainty and confidence
    type of:
    declare
    state emphatically and authoritatively
  2. verb
    report or maintain
    synonyms: allege, say
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    types:
    plead
    make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts
    demur
    enter a demurrer
    type of:
    assert, asseverate, maintain
    state categorically
Commonly confused words

aver / avow

To aver is to affirm and to avow is to openly declare. There's some overlap with these words because when people want to aver something — state a truth — they probably also want to avow it — say it publicly.

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Word Family