asseveration

From Latin assevērātiō, from assevērō.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /əˌsɛv.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, /æsˌɛv.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

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asseveration (countable and uncountable, plural asseverations)

1. An earnest affirmation; a declaration of support.

   Synonyms: averment, avowal

   • 1693 (date written), D. F. [pseudonym; Daniel Defoe], An Essay upon Projects, London: R. R. for Tho Cockerill, , published 1697, →OCLC, page 240:

     […] no man is believ’d a jot the more for all the Aſſeverations, Damnings and Swearings he makes: […]

   • a. 1777, David Hume, part XII, in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, , published 1779, page 146:

     Custom-houſe oaths and political oaths are but little regarded even by ſome who pretend to principles of honeſty and religion: and a Quaker’s aſſeveration is with us juſtly put upon the ſame footing with the oath of any other perſon.

   • 1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “And Last”, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. , volume III, London: Richard Bentley, , →OCLC, page 310:

     […] on all such occasions Mr. Grimwig plants, fishes, and carpenters with great ardour, doing everything in a very singular and unprecedented manner; but always maintaining, with his favourite asseveration, that his mode is the right one.

   • 1861, J[ohann] P[eter] Lange, translated by Alfred Edersheim, Theological and Homiletical Commentary on the Gospel of St Matthew. Specially Designed and Adapted for the Use of Ministers and Students., volume I, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, ; London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co.; Dublin: John Robertson, page 228:

     The true oath consists in the simple asseveration, uttered in perfect consciousness and under a sense of the presence of God, before Him, and in Him.

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 14: Oxen of the Sun]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, , →OCLC, part II , page 385:

     After this homily which he delivered with much warmth of asseveration Mr Mulligan in a trice put off from his hat a kerchief with which he had shielded it.

• asseverational

• assever
• asseverate