Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Avow
A-vow′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Avowed
([GREEK]); p. pr. & vb. n.
Avowing
.] 1.
To declare openly, as something believed to be right; to own or acknowledge frankly;
as, a man
. avows
his principles or his crimesWhich I to be the of Israel’s God
Avow
, and challenge Dagon to the test. Milton.
A-vow′
,Noun.
[Cf. F.
aveu
.] Avowal.
[Obs.]
Dryden.
A-vow′
,Verb.
T.
& I.
To bind, or to devote, by a vow.
[Obs.]
Wyclif.
A-vow′
,Noun.
A vow or determination.
[Archaic]
Webster 1828 Edition
Avow
AVOW'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To declare openly, with a view to justify, maintain or defend; or simply to own, acknowledge or confess frankly; as, a man avows his principles or his crimes.2.
In law, to acknowledge and justify; as when the distrainer of goods defends in an action of replevin, and avows the taking, but insists that such taking was legal.AVOW'
,Noun.
Definition 2024
avow
avow
English
Verb
avow (third-person singular simple present avows, present participle avowing, simple past and past participle avowed)
- (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.
- 1858, Henry Stephens Randall, The Life of Thomas Jefferson (volume 1, page 461)
- (transitive) To bind or devote by a vow.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Wyclif to this entry?)
- (law) To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See avowry.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Blackstone to this entry?)
Antonyms
Related terms
Related terms
Translations
declare openly
|
Noun
avow
- (obsolete) avowal
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)