different between allegation vs allege

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French allégation, from Latin allegatio, from allegare. See allege.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: ?l'?-g?'sh?n, IPA^(key): /?æl.???e?.??n/, /?æl.???e?.??n/

• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

allegation (plural allegations)

1. An assertion, especially an accusation, not necessarily based on facts.

   She put forth several allegations regarding her partner in hopes of discrediting his actions.
2. The act of alleging.

Synonyms

• accusation
• assertion
• censure
• charge
• crimination
• impeachment

Related terms

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• alledg, alledge, allegge (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??l?d?/
• Rhymes: -?d?

Etymology 1

From Middle English aleggen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman aleger, the form from Old French esligier (“to acquit”), from Medieval Latin *exl?tig?re (“to clear at law”), from Latin ex (“out”) + l?tig? (“sue at law”), the meaning from Old French alleguer, from Latin all?g?re, present active infinitive of all?g? (“send, depute; relate, mention, adduce”), from ad (“to”) + l?g? (“send”).

Verb

allege (third-person singular simple present alleges, present participle alleging, simple past and past participle alleged)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To state under oath, to plead.
2. (archaic) To cite or quote an author or his work for or against.
3. (transitive) To adduce (something) as a reason, excuse, support etc.
4. (transitive) To make a claim as justification or proof; to make an assertion without proof.

Related terms

• allegation
• privilege

Translations

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old French alegier, from Latin allevi?re, present active infinitive of allevi? (“lighten”), from ad + levis (“light”). Doublet of alleviate.

Verb

allege (third-person singular simple present alleges, present participle alleging, simple past and past participle alleged)

1. (obsolete) To lighten, diminish.

   • and suffir never your soveraynté to be alledged with your subjects, nother the soveraygne of your persone and londys.

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.ii:

     Hart that is inly hurt, is greatly eased / With hope of thing, that may allegge his smart […].

See also

• Wikipedia article on "oath"

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “allege”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

Further reading

• allege in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• allege in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Latin

Verb

allege

1. second-person singular present active imperative of alleg?