assert

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”).

verb

1. To declare with assurance or plainly and strongly; to state positively.
   Numerous experimental tests and other observations have been offered in favor of animal mind reading, and although many scientists are skeptical, others assert that humans are not the only species capable of representing what others do and don’t perceive and know. 2012 March-April, Colin Allen, “Do I See What You See?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 2012-04-26, page 168
   He would often assert that there was life on other planets.
2. To use or exercise and thereby prove the existence of.
   to assert one's authority
   Salman Rushdie has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to
   to assert our rights and liberties
4. (reflexive) 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.
   Since going to therapy, I've found it much easier to assert myself.
5. (programming) To specify that a condition or expression is true at a certain point in the code.
6. (electronics) To set a signal on a line using a voltage or electric current.

noun

1. (computer science) an assertion; a section of source code which tests whether an expected condition is true.