I. əˈvau̇ transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English avowen, from Old French avouer, from Latin advocare to summon, call to one's aid
1. obsolete : to acknowledge (a person) as one's own : acknowledge with approval (an agent's actions)
2.
a. : to assert or declare as a fact : claim
the modest procedure is not to avow loudly … our love of truth — G.W.Sherburn
I can … avow him to be the best family a boy ever had — W.J.Locke
b. : to acknowledge and assert (an act, a purpose) with frankness and determination : declare openly, bluntly, and without shame
the frankness to avow poverty — G.B.Shaw
3. law : to acknowledge and justify (an act done) ; specifically : to make an avowry of
Synonyms: see acknowledge , assert
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from avowen to avow, to bind by a vow, from Middle French avouer, from a- (from Latin ad- ) + vouer to vow — more at vow
archaic : a solemn promise : vow