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assert - 4 dictionary results

as⋅sert

  [uh-surt]
Use assert in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver: He asserted his innocence of the crime.
2. to maintain or defend (claims, rights, etc.).
3. to state as having existence; affirm; postulate: to assert a first cause as necessary.
—Idiom
4. assert oneself, to insist on one's rights, declare one's views forcefully, etc.: The candidate finally asserted himself about property taxes.
Origin:
1595–1605; < L assertus joined to, defended, claimed (ptp. of asserere), equiv. to as- as- + ser- (see series ) + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
as⋅sert⋅er, as⋅ser⋅tor, noun
as⋅sert⋅i⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. asseverate, avow, maintain. See declare. 2. uphold, support. See maintain.

Antonyms:
1. deny.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To assert
as·sert   (ə-sûrt')   
tr.v.   as·sert·ed, as·sert·ing, as·serts
  1. To state or express positively; affirm: asserted his innocence.
  2. To defend or maintain (one's rights, for example).

[Latin asserere, assert- : ad-, ad- + serere, to join; see ser-2 in Indo-European roots.]
as·sert'a·ble, as·sert'i·ble adj., as·sert'er, as·ser'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Assert

As*sert"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Asserting.] [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or fasten to one's self, claim, maintain; ad + serere to join or bind together. See Series.]

1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate.

Nothing is more shameful . . . than to assert anything to be done without a cause. --Ray.

2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic]

That . . . I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. --Milton.

I will assert it from the scandal. --Jer. Taylor.

3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights and liberties.

To assert one's self, to claim or vindicate one's rights or position; to demand recognition.

Syn: To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest; pronounce; declare; vindicate.

Usage: To Assert, Affirm, Maintain, Vindicate. To assert is to fasten to one's self, and hence to claim. It is, therefore, adversative in its nature. We assert our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree institutions, as against opposition or denial. To affirm is to declare as true. We assert boldly; we affirm positively. To maintain is to uphold, and insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once asserted; as, to maintain one's cause, to maintain an argument, to maintain the ground we have taken. To vindicate is to use language and measures of the strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those for whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing proofs, facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate our rights or interests by the utmost exertion of our powers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : assert
Spanish: aseverar, afirmar, sostener,
German: beteuern,
Japanese: 断言する
More Translations »

Main Entry: as·sert
Pronunciation: &-'s&rt
Function: transitive verb
: to present and demand recognition of <assert a claim> —as·ser·tion /&-'s&r-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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