v.
Pronunciation: ə - ' lej
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: al · leged ; al · leg · ing
Etymology: Middle English alleggen to submit in evidence or as justification, adduce, from Anglo-French aleger, allegger, probably in part modification of Medieval Latin allegare, from Latin, to send as a representative, adduce in support of a plea (fr. ad- + legare to depute), in part from Anglo-French aleger to lighten, free, exculpate, from Late Latin alleviare to relieve ― more at LEGATE , ALLEVIATE
Date: 14th century
1 archaic : to adduce or bring forward as a source or authority
2 : to assert without proof or before proving <the newspaper allege s the mayor's guilt>
3 : to bring forward as a reason or excuse