Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
avow [uh-vou] ExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object)
- to declare frankly or openly; own; acknowledge; confess; admit: He avowed himself an opponent of all alliances.
Origin of avow 1150–1200; Middle English avowen Old French avoue(r) Latin advocāre. See advocate Related formsa·vow·a·ble, adjectivea·vow·er, nounre·a·vow, verb (used with object)un·a·vow·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·vow·a·ble·ness, nounun·a·vow·a·bly, adverb Examples from the Web for unavowable Historical Examples of unavowable
As an evil it is too merciless; as a resource it is too unavowable.
Edmond Kelly
Over the sea it hung heavy and dank like a huge sheet of gray thrown over things secret and unavowable.
Baroness Orczy
No humility awoke in her; she felt the stirring of envies, avidities, unavowable passions, and let them flourish unrebuked.
George Gissing
British Dictionary definitions for unavowable avow verb (tr)
- to state or affirm
- to admit openly
- law rare to justify or maintain (some action taken)
Derived Formsavowable, adjectiveavowal, nounavowed (əˈvaʊd), adjectiveavowedly (əˈvaʊɪdlɪ), adverbavower, nounWord Origin for avow C13: from Old French avouer to confess, from Latin advocāre to appeal to, call upon; see avouch, advocate Word Origin and History for unavowable avow v.
early 13c., from Anglo-French avouer, Old French avoer “acknowledge, accept, recognize,” especially as a protector (Modern French avouer), from Latin advocare (see advocate). A synonym of avouch (q.v.), which tends to contain the more technical, legal aspect of the word. Related: Avowed; avowing.