allege

Etymology 1

From Middle English aleggen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman aleger, the form from Old French esligier (“to acquit”), from Medieval Latin *exlītigāre (“to clear at law”), from Latin ex (“out”) + lītigō (“sue at law”), the meaning from Old French alleguer, from Latin allēgāre, present active infinitive of allēgō (“send, depute; relate, mention, adduce”), from ad (“to”) + lēgō (“send”).

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To state under oath, to plead.
2. (archaic) To cite or quote an author or his work for or against.
3. (transitive) To adduce (something) as a reason, excuse, support etc.
4. (transitive) To make a claim as justification or proof; to make an assertion without proof.
   The agency alleged that my credit history had problems.

Etymology 2

From Middle English alleggen, from Old French alegier, from Latin alleviāre, present active infinitive of alleviō (“lighten”), from ad + levis (“light”). Doublet of alleviate.

verb

1. (obsolete) To lighten, diminish.