What does "averment" mean?

Averment: Verification; establishment by evidence. Bacon.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Law) A positive statement of facts; an allegation; an offer to justify or prove what is alleged. Note: In any stage of pleadings, when either party advances new matter, he avers it to be true, by using this form of words: "and this he is ready to verify." This was formerly called an averment. It modern pleading, it is termed a verification. Blackstone.

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