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

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
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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aver / avow

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