affidavit
[af-i-dey-vit]
- a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official.
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Origin of affidavit
1615–25; < Medieval Latin affīdāvit (he) has declared on oath, perfect 3rd singular of affīdāre; see affiance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for affidavit
Contemporary Examples
The FBI raided his home in 2000 with an affidavit questioning his use of $200,000 from his white supremacist fundraising.
“The defendant told me he did not want to go back so jail,” the affidavit says.
“He advised me that he did not have his license on him,” Randolph wrote in her affidavit.
“I stopped and yelled on my handheld radio for help,” the affidavit reports.
“[She] had been hemorrhaging since she arrived,” the affidavit notes.
Historical Examples
The affidavit from the overseer, I think, was not presented.
The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its ExperiencesHosea Quinby
The phrase rounds off a sentence, and nobody treats it like an affidavit.'
Lord KilgobbinCharles Lever
One of you get an affidavit from Murphy, telling his whole story.
Spring StreetJames H. Richardson
"Sign the affidavit," the agent said and pushed a sheet of paper toward him.
The StuttererR.R. Merliss
This warrant had been issued on the affidavit of Mr. Stanton.
affidavit
- law a declaration in writing made upon oath before a person authorized to administer oaths, esp for use as evidence in court
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Word Origin
C17: from Medieval Latin, literally: he declares on oath, from affīdare to trust (oneself) to; see affiance
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for affidavit
n.
1590s, from Medieval Latin affidavit, literally "he has stated on oath," third person singular perfective of affidare "to trust," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + fidare "to trust," from fidus "faithful," from fides "faith" (see faith). So called from being the first word of sworn statements.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper