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allege

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The definition of allege means to say something unproven or something without any facts to verify it.

(verb)

To report in a newspaper that a person has broken the law without that person being found guilty is an example of allege.

See allege in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb alleged, alleging

to assert positively, or declare; affirm; esp., to assert without proof
to offer as a plea, excuse, etc.: in his defense he alleged temporary insanity
Archaic to cite as an authority (for or against)

Origin: ME aleggen, to produce as evidence; form < OFr esligier < VL *exlitigare < L ex-, out of + litigare (see litigate); meaning infl. by OFr alleguer, declare on oath < L allegare, to send, mention, adduce < ad-, to + legare, to send: see legate

Related Forms:

allegeable adjective

See allege in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb al·leged, al·leg·ing, al·leg·es

To assert to be true; affirm: alleging his innocence of the charge.
To assert without or before proof: The indictment alleges that the commissioner took bribes.
To state (a plea or excuse, for example) in support or denial of a claim or accusation: The defendant alleges temporary insanity.
Archaic To bring forward as an authority.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English alleggen

Origin: , from Old French alegier, to vindicate, justify (influenced by aleguer, to give a reason)

Origin: , from esligier, to pay a fine, justify oneself

Origin: , from Late Latin *exlītigāre, to clear at law

Origin: : Latin ex-, out; see ex-

Origin: + Latin lītigāre, to sue; see litigate

Related Forms: