Definition of: allege

(ə·lej′) v.t. al·leged, al·leg·ing
1. To assert to be true without proving; affirm.
2. To plead as an excuse, in support of or in opposition to a claim or accusation.
3. Archaic To cite or quote. [ <AF alegier, OF esligier < L ex- out + litigare sue; infl. by L allegare (see ALLEGATION) and lex law]
—al·lege′a·ble adjective
—al·leged′ adjective
—al·leg′er noun Synonyms: adduce, advance, affirm, assert, asseverate, assign, aver, cite, claim, declare, introduce, maintain, offer, plead, produce, say, state. To allege is formally to state as true, without proving. Adduce is a secondary word; nothing can be adduced in evidence until something has been stated or alleged, which the evidence is to sustain. An alleged fact stands open to question or doubt. When an alleged criminal is brought to trial, the counsel on either side are accustomed to advance a theory, and adduce the strongest possible evidence in its support; they will produce documents and witnesses, cite precedents, assign reasons, introduce suggestions, offer pleas. The accused will usually assert his innocence. Compare STATE. Antonyms: see AFFIRM.