Affidavit

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌæfɪˈdeɪvɪt/
• Rhymes: -eɪvɪt

Origin

From Medieval Latin affidavit ("he has sworn"), the third person singular perfect tense of affido ("swear"), from fīdō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰidʰ-, zero-grade of Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ- ("to command, to persuade, to trust"). Cognate to fidelity and faith (same Latin root), but not to affirm (shared Latin ad- prefix, but different Latin and Proto-Indo-European roots).

Full definition of affidavit

Noun

1. (legal) A signed document wherein an affiant makes a sworn statement.
• 1959, William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch, page 142Lee's case is urgent. He has to file an immediate affidavit that he is suffering from bubonic plague to avoid eviction from the house he has occupied ten years without paying the rent.
2. He submitted his affidavit rather than appearing to testify in court.