allege

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈlɛd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #50382

Meanings

1

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

The newspaper alleged that the minister had accepted bribes.
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.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to claim that someone has... say

2 verb · to state or report... plead

Word family

Forms allegedallegesalleging

Derived forms allegeableallegermisallegereallege

Related forms allegation privilege

Etymology

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”).

aleggen Middle English alleguer Old French aleger xno esligier Old French ex Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# allege

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈlɛd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 50382

## Meanings
1. To claim that someone has done something wrong, usually without proof yet.
2. To state or report something as a fact, especially in a legal context.

## Examples
- The newspaper alleged that the minister had accepted bribes.
- The couple alleged that they had been the victims of a serious crime.

## Derived Forms
- allegeable
- alleger
- misallege
- reallege

## Related Forms
- allegation
- privilege

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: aleggen
- Root: alleguer
- Root: aleger
- Root: esligier
- Root: ex

## Etymology
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”).

## AI Etymology
Allege is 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”). In present-day use, it can mean to claim that someone has done something wrong, usually without proof yet, or to state or report something as a fact, especially in a legal context. Related forms include allegation, privilege. Derived formations include allegeable, alleger, misallege, reallege.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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