To bring forward, present, or offer; advance; cite; name or instance as authority or evidence for what one advances.
Synonyms Adduce, Allege, Assign, Advance, Offer, Cite. Offer and assign are the least forcible of these words. To offer is simply to present for acceptance. We may offer a plea, an apology, or an excuse, but it may not be accepted. We may assign a reason, but it may not be the real or only reason which might be given by us. We may advance an opinion or a theory, and may cite authorities in support of it Allege is the most positive of all these words. To allege is to make an unsupported statement regarding something; to adduce, on the other hand, is to bring forward proofs or evidence in support of some statement or proposition already made: as, he alleged that he had been robbed by A. B., but adduced no proof in support of his allegation.