avowry

noun

avow·​ry

-au̇(ə)rē,

-ri

plural -es

1

a

obsolete : advocacy, patronage, protection

b

: advocate, patron

especially : patron saint

2

: the act of one who avows something

especially, law : an acknowledgment of having taken the plaintiff's property that is set out in the defendant's pleading in an action of replevin and that includes the justification for doing so compare cognizance sense 5

Word History

Etymology

Middle English avowrie, from Middle French avouerie protection, patronage, from Old French, from avouer to avow + -erie -ery

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