aver

American  

[uh-vur] / əˈvɜr /

verb (used with object)

avers, present (3rd person singular) averred, past participle, past averring present participle

1. to assert or affirm with confidence; declare in a positive or peremptory manner.

2. Law. to allege as a fact.

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aver British  

/ əˈvɜː /

verb

1. to state positively; assert

2. law to allege as a fact or prove to be true

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Synonym Usage

See maintain.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unaverred
  adjective
• averment
  noun
• preaver
  verb (used with object)
• misaver
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have averred
  perfect
• has averred
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am averring
  progressive 1st person singular
• is averring
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been averring
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are averring
  progressive
• have been averring
  perfect progressive
• averring
  participle
• avers
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had averred
  perfect
• was averring
  progressive singular
• had been averring
  perfect progressive
• were averring
  progressive plural
• averred
  simple
• averred
  participle

Future

• will aver
  simple
• will have averred
  perfect
• will have been averring
  perfect progressive
• will be averring
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of aver

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French averer < Medieval Latin advērāre, equivalent to ad- ad- + -vēr- (< Latin vērus true) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix

Explanation

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."