allege

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To claim that someone has done something wrong, usually without proof yet.

   The newspaper alleged that the minister had accepted bribes.

2. 2
   verb

   To state or report something as a fact, especially in a legal context.

   The couple alleged that they had been the victims of a serious crime.

From Middle English aleggen, perhaps from Old French alleguer, or from Anglo-Norman aleger, the form perhaps from Old French esligier (“to acquit”), from Medieval Latin *exlītigāre (“to clear at law”), from Latin ex (“out”) + lītigō (“sue at law”), but the meaning from Old French alleguer, from Latin allēgāre (“send on a mission, depute; relate, mention, adduce”), from ad (“to”) + lēgō (“send”).

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