allege

[ uh-lej ]

verb (used with object)

, al·leged, al·leg·ing.

1. to assert without proof.
2. to declare with positiveness; affirm; assert:

   to allege a fact.

   Synonyms: asseverate, state, aver

   Antonyms: deny

3. to declare before a court or elsewhere, as if under oath.

   Synonyms: attest

4. to plead in support of; offer as a reason or excuse.
5. Archaic. to cite or quote in confirmation.

allege

/ əˈlɛdʒ /

verb

1. to declare in or as if in a court of law; state without or before proof

   he alleged malpractice

2. to put forward (an argument or plea) for or against an accusation, claim, etc
3. archaic.
   to cite or quote, as to confirm

Other Words From

• al·legea·ble adjective
• al·leger noun
• misal·lege verb (used with object) misalleged misalleging
• preal·lege verb (used with object) prealleged prealleging
• real·lege verb (used with object) realleged realleging

Word History and Origins

Origin of allege¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English alleg(g)en, probably from Old French aleguer, from Medieval Latin, Latin allēgāre “to adduce in support of a plea” ( allegation ), conflated with Anglo-French, Old French aleg(i)er, “to justify, free,” literally, “to lighten,” from Late Latin alleviāre “to lighten, relieve” ( alleviate ); homonymous Middle English verb alleg(g)en, with literal sense of Old French aleg(i)er, replaced by allay in 16th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of allege¹

C14 aleggen, ultimately from Latin allēgāre to dispatch on a mission, from lēx law

Synonym Study

See maintain.

Example Sentences

They also allege their children are not in fact siblings, despite having been told they were.

From The Daily Beast

Was it, as some former employees allege, that the bosses bit off more than they could chew?

From The Daily Beast

Police allege the man was in a close relationship with Kakehi and they are investigating the details of his passing.

From The Daily Beast

The papers allege that Hayden escorted J.W. down a number of hallways.

From The Daily Beast

Army officials also allege that he worked for ethnic rebels as a “communications captain.”

From The Daily Beast

The English authorities expressly allege a deliberate purpose on Bruce's part to rid himself of his rival.

From Project Gutenberg

It was neither age nor sickness, as the chroniclers allege, that prevented King Robert from leading the Weardale foray.

From Project Gutenberg

If I am a forger or a friend of forgers, as you allege me to be, then I am unworthy to have served in the uniform of France.

From Project Gutenberg

The emir would bring 500 witnesses to-morrow to establish any crime he was pleased to allege.

From Project Gutenberg

The mere assertion of what he meant to allege must at least delay this hateful marriage.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• charge
• cite
• declare
• depose
• maintain
• recount
• testify