avowed

[uh-voud]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR avowed ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

acknowledged; declared: an avowed enemy.

Nearby words

Origin of avowed

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at avow, -ed²

Related formsa·vow·ed·ly

[uh-vou-id-lee] /əˈvaʊ ɪd li/, adverba·vow·ed·ness, nounself-a·vowed, adjectiveun·a·vowed, adjective

avow

[uh-vou]

verb (used with object)

to declare frankly or openly; own; acknowledge; confess; admit: He avowed himself an opponent of all alliances.

Origin of avow

1150–1200; Middle English avowen < Old French avoue(r) < Latin advocāre. See advocate

Related forms

a·vow·a·ble, adjectivea·vow·er, nounre·a·vow, verb (used with object)un·a·vow·a·ble, adjective

un·a·vow·a·ble·ness, nounun·a·vow·a·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for avowed

An avowed creationist who consults for a food lobby hardly seems an appropriate choice to fulfill these criteria.
The Heart Association’s Junk Science Diet|Dr. Barbara H. Roberts|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Should an avowed Marxist professor whose field of study is the 0.01 percent therefore be paid $15,000,000 a year?
That’s All a Nobel Prize Winner Gets Paid?|Michael Tomasky|April 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And it may cease to be a worry at all if the avowed opponents of stop-and-frisk have their way.
Antiq Hennis’s Bloody Stroller Shames New York City Mayor’s Race|Michael Daly|September 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A dishy book from an avowed sociopath has stirred up an awkward debate: perhaps all of us have a bit of the personality disorder.
How to Spot a Sociopath (Hint: It Could Be You)|Caitlin Dickson|June 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST

His avowed goal had once been to get his American citizenship by boxing for the U.S. Olympic team and then turn pro.
Boston Suspects Tamerlan & Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, From Boxing to Bombs|Michael Daly|April 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They know I'm close to Bobby and they'd like to have him on their side, for all their avowed independence.
And Then the Town Took Off|Richard Wilson
The thing was damaging Lincoln and the friends of freedom more than an avowed Democratic paper could.
Abraham Lincoln, Volume 2 (of 2)|William H. Herndon
It would seem that society was shocked at the avowed infidelity of the Augustan age.
The Apostles|Ernest Renan
Mr. Clayton, of Delaware, declared to the same purpose, and avowed that Northern men could not be expected to consent to this.
A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention|Lucius Eugene Chittenden
She avowed her determination to conceal the secrets of the government from those who were capable of abusing her confidence.
The Rise of the Dutch Republic, Volume I.(of III) 1555-66|John Lothrop Motley

British Dictionary definitions for avowed

avow

verb (tr)

to state or affirm

to admit openly

law rare to justify or maintain (some action taken)

Derived Forms

avowable, adjectiveavowal, nounavowed (əˈvaʊd), adjectiveavowedly (əˈvaʊɪdlɪ), adverb

avower, noun

Word Origin for avow

C13: from Old French avouer to confess, from Latin advocāre to appeal to, call upon; see avouch, advocate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for avowed

avow

early 13c., from Anglo-French avouer, Old French avoer "acknowledge, accept, recognize," especially as a protector (Modern French avouer), from Latin advocare (see advocate). A synonym of avouch (q.v.), which tends to contain the more technical, legal aspect of the word. Related: Avowed; avowing.

avowed

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of avowed

avow

verb (used with object)

Origin of avow

Examples from the Web for avowed

avow

verb (tr)

Word Origin for avow

avow