Avow

a-vow′, v.t. to declare openly: to own or confe : to affirm or maintain: ( law ) to justify an act done.— n. a solemn promise: a vow.— pa.p. as adj. self-acknowledged.— adj. Avow′able .— ns. Avow′ablene , Avow′ance ( obs. ); Avow′al , a positive declaration: a frank confe ion.— adv. Avow′edly .— n. Avow′ry ( law ), the act of avowing and justifying in one's own right the distraining of goods: ( obs. ) advocacy considered as personified in a patron saint. [O. Fr. avouer , orig. to swear fealty to—L. ad , and Low L. votāre — votum , a vow. See Vow .]