Avow
AVOW', verb transitive [Latin voveo.]
1. To declare openly, with a view to justify, maintain or defend; or simply to own, acknowledge or confess frankly; as, a man avows his principles or his crimes.
2. In law, to acknowledge and justify; as when the distrainer of goods defends in an action of replevin, and avows the taking, but insists that such taking was legal.
AVOW', noun A vow or determination. [Not used.]