avow
part of speech
verb (avow, avows, avowed, avowing)
meaning for a pupil
1) (formal) To say something openly and firmly, to declare it. tree →
2) (formal) To admit or confess something openly. tree →
sense in the lessons
An old-fashioned, formal word met in stories and exam texts. It tells the reader someone states a belief or feeling openly. The adjective "avowed" (an avowed enemy) means openly declared. Phrases: avow your love, avowed enemy, avowed aim.
examples
- The knight avowed his loyalty to the king. tree →
- She avowed that she had never seen the stolen ring. tree →
- He was an avowed fan of the team. tree →
- The two families were avowed enemies. tree →
- They avowed their love in front of everyone. tree →
- The avowed aim of the club is to help animals. tree →
- He avowed his mistake and apologised. tree →
note
Formal and literary; plain words: declare, state, admit. Noun: avowal. Do not confuse with vow (a solemn promise) or allow.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «avow» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.