Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to avouch

to avouch

1 9.9
To say clearly and without doubt that something is true
  • verb
  • /əˈvaʊtʃ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : afirmar
  • Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head, made love to Nedar's daughter Helena and won her soul.

Examples

  • I can avouch that the report is accurate based on my observations.

  • By 1967, no factions divided the Colorados; everyone avouched themselves a Stroessnerista.

    Academic text (1992)

  • And though I could with barefaced power sweep him from my sight… and bid my will avouch it… yet I must not… for certain friends that are both his and mine… whose loves I may not drop.

    Macbeth (1971)

  • She did not hesitate to avouch her support for the new policy during the meeting.

  • During the debate, he confidently avouched his stance on climate change.

Synonyms

to assert
vsto avouch
229 3.9

To clearly and firmly say your needs or opinions

tends to be plainer and more admitting rather than firm insistence
to avow
vsto avouch
  • Formal
4 7.6

To say something openly, often in a formal way

is more blunt and direct rather than formal public admission
to aver
vsto avouch
  • Formal
2 7.9

To say firmly that something is true

is more about open blunt admission rather than only forceful claim
to asseverate
vsto avouch
  • Formal
9.9

To say something firmly and seriously

is less ceremonious and more openly blunt than emphatic form

Antonyms

to disavow
  • Formal
33 7.7

To say you are not responsible for or connected to something

How Open

to proclaim
  • Formal
229 5.3
to avouch
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to assert
229 3.9
to state
∞ 1.6
to say
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

avouch infinitive
avouched past
avouched past participle
avouching present participle
avouches third person singular

Morphology

avouch = vouch (semi-transparent) = a + vouch

The form and meaning are recognizably related to 'vouch', but 'avouch' is more formal/archaic and the initial 'a-' is not a productive modern prefix, so learners may not reliably derive the sense.

Etymology

Avouch is related to the simple word vouch and comes from old words meaning 'to call' or 'to speak as a witness', so it was used when someone openly declared something was true. That's why to avouch now is to openly affirm or admit something without hesitation.