2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Assert \As*sert"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Asserted}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Asserting}.] [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or
fasten to one's self, claim, maintain; ad + serere to join or
bind together. See {Series}.]
1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and
strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate.
Nothing is more shameful . . . than to assert
anything to be done without a cause. --Ray.
2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic]
That . . . I may assert Eternal Providence, And
justify the ways of God to men. --Milton.
I will assert it from the scandal. --Jer. Taylor.
3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or
measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert
our rights and liberties.
{To assert one's self}, to claim or vindicate one's rights or
position; to demand recognition.
Syn: To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest;
pronounce; declare; vindicate.
Usage: To {Assert}, {Affirm}, {Maintain}, {Vindicate}. To
assert is to fasten to one's self, and hence to claim.
It is, therefore, adversative in its nature. We assert
our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree
institutions, as against opposition or denial. To
affirm is to declare as true. We assert boldly; we
affirm positively. To maintain is to uphold, and
insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once
asserted; as, to maintain one's cause, to maintain an
argument, to maintain the ground we have taken. To
vindicate is to use language and measures of the
strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those for
whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing
proofs, facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate
our rights or interests by the utmost exertion of our
powers.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
asserted
adj : confidently declared to be so; "the asserted value of the
painting"