avow
/əˈvaʊ
/verb [reporting verb]
Assert or confess openly: [with clause]: he avowed that he had voted Labour in every election [with object]: he avowed his change of faith...
- I don't think it's impermissible for the judge to openly avow that that Constitution is morally praiseworthy, that the United States is morally praiseworthy.
- It is best explicable as an index of old-fashioned attitudes and its correlation with racism simply shows that it is now old-fashioned to avow openly racist attitudes.
- After openly avowing that his soul was bound with hers, William could not but be impatient with Elizabeth for refusing to make up her mind.
Synonyms
assert, declare, state, maintain, aver, attest, swear, vow, insist;
confess, admit
rare asseverate
declared, sworn, self-confessed, confessed, self-proclaimed, acknowledged, admitted, open, overt;
known
Derivatives
avowal
/ noun ...- On the contrary, a new Populus poll for the Times has suggested such widespread eagerness to appear generous that avowals of altruism occasionally precede the actual act.
- But the current attempt to de-legitimise this debate, and replace it with avowals of personal belief are destined to fail.
- Despite repeated avowals that he would remain above the push and pull of politics, and that he would keep Islam separate from the state, he has repeatedly shown his willingness to involve himself in political debates.
Origin
Middle English (in the senses 'acknowledge, approve' and 'vouch for'): from Old French avouer 'acknowledge', from Latin advocare 'summon in defence' (see avouch).
Rhymes
- repin
- repine
- repinement
- repiner
- repique
- replace
- replaceable
- replacement
- replacement cost
- replacement cycle
- replacement fertility
- replacement level
- replacement period
- replacement price
- replacement ratio
- replacement theory
- replacement therapy
- replacer
- replacive
- replait
- replan
- replant
- replantation
- replant disease
- replaster