[de.clare] vb de.clared ; de.clar.ing [ME, fr. MF & L; MF declarer, fr. L declarare, fr. de- + clarare to make visible, fr. clarus clear--more at clear] vt (14c) 1: to make known formally, officially, or explicitly
2. obs: to make clear
3: to make evident: show
4: to state emphatically: affirm "~s his innocence"
5: to make a full statement of (one's taxable or dutiable property)
6. a: to announce (as a trump suit) in a card game b: meld 7: to make payable "~ a dividend" ~ vi 1: to make a declaration
2: to avow one's opinion or support -- de.clar.able adj syn declare, announce, proclaim, promulgate mean to make known publicly. declare implies explicitness and usu. formality in making known "the referee declared the contest a draw". announce implies the declaration of something for the first time "announced their engagement at a party". proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively "the president proclaimed a national day of mourning". promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law "promulgated an edict of religious toleration". syn see in addition assert