/al'i gay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of alleging; affirmation.
2. an assertion made with little or no proof.
3. an assertion made by a party in a legal proceeding, which the party then undertakes to prove.
4. a statement offered as a plea, excuse, or justification.
[ 1375-1425; late ME allegation- (s. of allegatio ), equiv. to allegat ( us ), ptp. of allegare to adduce in support of a plea ( al- AL- + -legare, deriv. of lex law; see LEGAL) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 1, 2. charge, accusation; claim, contention.