ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

248 / 256

verb

avouch

uh-VOWCH/əˈvaʊtʃ/

Declare confidently that something is true.

The craftsperson avouches that the repaired chair is sturdy enough to use.

A craftsperson firmly vouches for a repaired chair’s soundness to a cautious customer, one hand on chest and other hand demonstrating the sturdy joined leg, direct assured eye contact.

Etymology

aLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+vouchLatincall, summon

To “call to” meant summoning a witness or invoking an authority. That appeal to testimony underlies avouch’s sense of affirming a claim or guaranteeing its truth.

More examples

I can avouch the truth of her account.
He avouched his loyalty before the assembled council.
The letter avouches the writer's confidence in the findings.

Forms

avouch · avouches · avouched · avouching

Similar words

affirm: Is a more common term for stating something positively.
vouch: Usually occurs with for when guaranteeing reliability or character.