Dictionary

avouchment en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English avouch Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English avouchment From avouch + -ment.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of avouching.
   • While in the judgement of wise Men, by laying the foundation of his defence on the avouchment of that which is so manifestly untrue, he hath giv’n a worse soile to his own cause, then when his whole Forces were at any time overthrown. 1649, John Milton, Eikonoklastes, page 5:
2. (countable, uncountable) A positive declaration.
   • Under oath, at the Army-McCarthy hearings, he denied ever having said this. His denials were as meaningless as his avouchments, and reputable journalists heard him. 1959, Richard H. Rovere, “What He Was and What He Did-1”, in Senator Joe McCarthy, Cleveland: Meridian, published 1963, page 31:

Forms