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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
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The audits of all four high school foundations, which provided the district with $5 million in funding to support students in the last school year, were spurred by a report circulated by Canyon Crest Academy students alleging financial irregularities within the CCA Foundation.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
The video also is mentioned in a court filing from the firm Monday, asking a court to order SCE to preserve certain physical evidence the plaintiff alleges may show the cause of the sparking.
—Michelle Watson, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
But the legal saga is far from over, as Baldwin filed a civil lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators of the very trial earlier this month that alleges malicious prosecution and defamation.
—EW.com, 27 Jan. 2025
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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 Jan. 2025.
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allege
verb
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