English Explanatory Dictionary

assert

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To declare with assurance or plainly and strongly; to state positively.
  2. To use or exercise and thereby prove the existence of.
  3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to.
  4. To insist on the legitimacy of one's rights, opinion, etc; not to allow oneself to be dismissed; to ensure that one is taken into consideration; to make oneself respected; to be assertive. See assert oneself.
  5. To declare that a condition or expression must be true at a certain point in the source code (in some cases causing the program to fail if it is not, as a safeguard).
  6. To set a signal on a line using a voltage or electric current.
noun
  1. Synonym of assertion.

Pronunciation

/əˈsɜːt/ /əˈsɝt/ En-us-assert.ogg

Word forms

assert asserts asserting asserted

Etymology

From Latin assertus, perfect passive participle of asserō (“declare someone free or a slave by laying hands upon him; hence free from, protect, defend; lay claim to, assert, declare”), from ad (“to”) + serō (“join, range in a row”).

Synonyms

affirm asseverate aver avow exert assertion

Antonyms

remit deny deassert

Derived words

assertability assertable asserter assertive assertment assert oneself assertor counterassert misassert overassert reassert unassert
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