Avowry
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
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- n avowry In old law, the act of the distraiuer of goods, who, in an action of replevin, avowed and justified the taking by maintaining that he took them in his own right: thus distinguished from cognizance, which was the defense of one who maintained that he took them in the right of another as his bailiff or servant.
- n avowry A patron saint chosen for one's advocacy in heaven: often applied to a picture or representation of the patron saint, and hence the cognizance by which a knight was known, because the representation of his patron saint borne on his pennon became such a cognizance.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
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- n Avowry (law) the act of avowing and justifying in one's own right the distraining of goods:
- n Avowry (obs.) advocacy considered as personified in a patron saint
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
OE. avouerie, protection, authority, OF. avouerie,. See Avow to declare
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
O. Fr. avouer, orig. to swear fealty to—L. ad, and Low L. votāre—votum, a vow. See Vow.