avouch
pronunciation
How to pronounce avouch in British English:
UK [ə'vaʊtʃ]
How to pronounce avouch in American English:
US [ə'vaʊtʃ]
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- Verb:
- admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about
Word Origin
- avouch (v.)
- late 15c., from Middle French avochier "call upon as authority," in Old French "call (to court), advocate, plead (a case)," from Latin advocare "call to" as a witness (see advocate). Avouch, which is no longer in common use, means guarantee, solemnly aver, prove by assertion, maintain the truth or existence of, vouch for .... Avow means own publicly to, make no secret of, not shrink from admitting, acknowledge one's responsibility for .... Vouch is now common only in the phrase vouch for, which has taken the place of avouch in ordinary use, & means pledge one's word for .... [Fowler] Related: Avouched; avouching.
Example
- 1. Let this man in , we 'll avouch for him .
- 2. Let this man in , we ll avouch for him .
- 3. Demetrius , I 'll avouch it to his head .
- 4. London alley mouth has mad chinese speech , avouch wants burn-up buckingham palace , hanging chancellery , comply with surround , traffic block sluggish .