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These days, someone alleges something before presenting evidence to prove it (or perhaps without evidence at all). But the word allege comes directly from the Middle English verb alleggen, meaning "to submit (something) in evidence or as justification." (Alleggen traces back to the Anglo-French word aleger, meaning "to lighten, free, or exculpate.") Our word has at times in the past carried a meaning closer to that of its ancestor's: it was once applied when bringing someone or something forward as a source or authority in court, as in "a text alleged in support of the argument." The word has also been used to mean "to bring forward as a reason or excuse," as in these lines from Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre: "I did not like to walk at this hour alone with Mr. Rochester in the shadowy orchard; but I could not find a reason to allege for leaving him."
Synonyms
Examples of allege in a Sentence
Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Google is facing antitrust cases, alleging the company to monopolize the marketplace and the general search services.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Plummer alleged Pound repeatedly denied him access to her things, including two cats, jewelry and other items.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024
After an investigation, the police alleged that Smollett had paid two acquaintances to stage the assault and a grand jury charged him with a Class 4 felony for filing a false police report.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near allege
Cite this Entry
“Allege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allege. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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allege
verb
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