Avow
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
To acknowledge the commission of an act and claim that it was done with right.
3 Bla. Com. 150.
To make an avowry. For example, when replevin is brought for a thing distrained, and the party taking claims that he had a right to make the distress, he is said to avow.
See Fleta, 1. 1, c. 4; Cunningham, Diet; Avowry; Justification.