affidavit
noun
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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.”
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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
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 31 May 2024
Brian Nichols, Chanos’ former chief financial officer, said in an affidavit filed along with the suit that his boss acknowledged the loan was still outstanding as part of his 2022 tax return.
—Greg Farrell, Fortune, 28 May 2024
California Mother Faces Murder Charge in Baby’s Shooting Nov. 7, 1998
Data from cellphone towers placed both women’s phones on April 14, 2022, in the area where the suitcase was found, authorities said in Coleman’s arrest affidavit.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
In an affidavit from Cheatham County obtained by WZTV Nashville, Babcock admitted to shooting at the person in his driveway.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 May 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 6 Jun. 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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