— allegeable , adj. — alleger , n.
/euh lej"/ , v.t., alleged, alleging .
1. to assert without proof.
2. to declare with positiveness; affirm; assert: to allege a fact.
3. to declare before a court or elsewhere, as if under oath.
4. to plead in support of; offer as a reason or excuse.
5. Archaic. to cite or quote in confirmation.
[ 1275-1325; ME alleg ( g ) en, prob. aleguer ( allegare to adduce in support of a plea; see ALLEGATION), conflated with AF, OF aleg ( i ) er to justify, free, lit., to lighten ( alleviare; see ALLEVIATE); homonymous ME v. alleg ( g ) en, with literal sense of OF aleg ( i ) er, replaced by ALLAY in 16th cent. ]
Syn. 1. See maintain. 2. state, asseverate, aver. 3. attest.
Ant. 2. deny.