Avow

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aÊŠ

Origin

From Old French avouer, from Latin advocare ("to call to, call upon, hence to call as a witness, defender, patron, or advocate"), from ad ("to") + vocare ("to call").

Full definition of avow

Verb

1. (transitive) To declare openly and boldly, as something believed to be right; to own, acknowledge or confess frankly.
• 1858, Henry Stephens Randall, The Life of Thomas Jefferson (volume 1, page 461)... in 1786, and for some period later, there were few, if any, prominent Americans, who avowed themselves in favor of broadly democratic systems.
2. (transitive) To bind or devote by a vow.
3. (legal) To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See avowry.

Antonyms

• disavow

Related terms

Noun