affidavit

noun

af·fi·da·vit | \ ˌa-fə-ˈdā-vət

Definition of affidavit

: a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation (see affirmation sense 2) before an authorized magistrate or officer The witness's affidavit was presented to the court as evidence.

Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about affidavit

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Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé

Affidavit refers to a written promise, and its Latin roots connect it to another kind of promise in English. It comes from a past tense form of the Latin verb affidare, meaning “to pledge”; in Latin, affidavit translates to “he or she has made a pledge.”

Affidare is also the root of affiance, an archaic English noun meaning “trust, faith, confidence,” “marriage contract or promise,” or a meaning that has completely fallen from use, “close or intimate relationship.” More familiar to modern English speakers is the verb affiance, meaning “to promise in marriage” or “to betroth.” It usually appears as a fancy-sounding participial adjective:

I like to give affianced friends a copy of Rebecca Mead’s book “One Perfect Day,” which exposes the ridiculous wedding industry.
—Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist, 7 October 2014

Affiance came through French to English in the 14th century, and, nearly 500 years later, the related French words fiancé and fiancée were added to English. Etymologically speaking, a fiancé or fiancée is a “promised one.”

Did You Know?

In Latin, affidavit means "he (she) has sworn an oath", and an affidavit is always a sworn written document. If it contains a lie, the person making it may be prosecuted. Affidavits are often used in court when it isn't possible for someone to appear in person. Police officers must usually file an affidavit with a judge to get a search warrant. Affidavits (unlike similar signed statements called depositions) are usually made without an opposing lawyer being present and able to ask questions.

Examples of affidavit in a Sentence

We have a signed affidavit stating that the two men were seen entering the building.

Recent Examples on the Web

Police identified him when an officer found a photo from Aug. 17 that showed Zamora in the same shirt with a rainbow ski mask hanging from his belt, the affidavit says. — Washington Post, "Police in Oregon make more arrests in mass protest," 30 Aug. 2019 Police using a search warrant also found the teal shirt and mask in Zamora’s home, the affidavit said. — oregonlive, "Man seen attacking right-wing protesters’ bus during Portland demonstrations gets arrested," 30 Aug. 2019 Clark told the other officer to obtain other jail videos showing officers pepper-spraying inmates, the affidavit says. — Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County Jail officer indicted, accused of trying to extort other officer to testify on his behalf," 29 Aug. 2019 The search warrant was filed by a Eugene police officer seeking to examine the garbage truck, the affidavit said. — oregonlive.com, "Garbage truck driver ran over woman found dead in sleeping bag, Eugene police say," 28 Aug. 2019 Murphy terminated his partnership with Joiner in summer 2017 and never heard back from him, the affidavit said. — Los Angeles Times, "Investors fell for a star-studded Netflix film. It was a $14-million scam, prosecutors say," 28 Aug. 2019 Blunt, 29, was also seen on video hitting the woman with a closed fist multiple times, the affidavit said. — Doha Madani, NBC News, "Shocking video shows alleged attack on mentally disabled woman by group home staff," 27 Aug. 2019 On the same day, the affidavit said, Singer got a voicemail from Donna Heinel, an official in the USC athletic department. — John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, "Lori Loughlin and fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli due in Boston courthouse," 27 Aug. 2019 Several tipsters identified Johns and Walker as the suspects after police released images of them, the affidavit says. — Tom Steele, Dallas News, "Police arrest 2nd suspect in shooting at Pleasant Grove game room that left 2 men dead," 23 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'affidavit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for affidavit

affidavit

noun

English Language Learners Definition of affidavit

law : a written report which is signed by a person who promises that the information is true

See the full definition for affidavit in the English Language Learners Dictionary

affidavit

noun

af·fi·da·vit | \ ˌa-fə-ˈdā-vət

Kids Definition of affidavit

: a written statement signed by a person who swears that the information is true

affidavit

noun

af·fi·da·vit | \ ˌa-fə-ˈdā-vət

Legal Definition of affidavit

: a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation before an authorized magistrate or officer — compare deposition, examination

Keep scrolling for more

affidavit

Definition of affidavit

Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé

Did You Know?

Examples of affidavit in a Sentence

First Known Use of affidavit

History and Etymology for affidavit

English Language Learners Definition of affidavit

Kids Definition of affidavit

Legal Definition of affidavit

affidavit

Definition of affidavit

Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé

Did You Know?

Examples of affidavit in a Sentence

First Known Use of affidavit

History and Etymology for affidavit

English Language Learners Definition of affidavit

Kids Definition of affidavit

Legal Definition of affidavit

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