Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: alleguer, from Latin allegare 'to give reasons', from ad- 'to' + legare ( LEGATE)

allege

 verb
     
al‧lege [transitive often passive] formal
to say that something is true or that someone has done something wrong, although it has not been proved
it is alleged (that)
It was alleged that the policeman had accepted bribes.
allege that
The prosecution alleged that the man had been responsible for an act of terrorism.
be alleged to be/do something
The water is alleged to be polluted with mercury.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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