affidavit
noun
Did you know?
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
Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
This suggested a connection between the dogs found in the creek and the dogs found in the freezer, the affidavit said.
—Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman, 20 Nov. 2024
The 51-year-old mother of four went missing on Oct. 6 after allegedly fighting with her husband of 22 years in front of their house in Olmos Park, in the San Antonio area, according to the arrest affidavit for Brad Simpson.
—Mollie Markowitz, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
Surveillance videos from the area showed the path of a black Dodge Charger that’s suspected of being involved, the affidavit said.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for affidavit 
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Cite this Entry
“Affidavit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affidavit. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affidavit
noun
Legal Definition
affidavit
noun
Medieval Latin, he/she has pledged faith, third singular perfect of affidare see affiant
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