上述單詞均有“宣稱”或“斷言”等的含義。其中，assert 指有力地且具有說服力的陳述和要求，以求得（法庭等的）認(rèn)可[1]。affirm指主動(dòng)、莊嚴(yán)和正式地宣稱或陳述某事屬實(shí)，故主要表示確認(rèn)，如上級(jí)法院對(duì)下級(jí)法院判決的確認(rèn)，以及聲稱其沒有宗教信仰，或聲稱合同有效，某訴辯事實(shí)屬實(shí)等[2]。allege 表示在尚未提供證據(jù)的情況下的聲稱，其聲稱的事實(shí)需要經(jīng)過證實(shí)或得到否決，故其經(jīng)常具有“指控”的含義[3]；此外，其還可用作等同aver。aver指在訴辯狀（pleading)之辯護(hù)中引例證明，用簡(jiǎn)短事實(shí)說明，故為“立證”[4]。avouch指一種擔(dān)保或確認(rèn)，尤指確認(rèn)或證明一行為[5]。avow指在訴辯狀中公開宣稱或承認(rèn)，或證明已實(shí)施的行為正當(dāng)?shù)萚6]，如avow one's guilt。 maintain多指違背事實(shí)對(duì)以前的陳述進(jìn)行堅(jiān)持，或就事實(shí)作相反爭(zhēng)辯，如：In spite of circumstantial evidence pointing to his guilt, the accused maintained that he was innocent. testify 主要指作為證人以提供證據(jù)的方式陳述和確認(rèn)[7]。

[1]“To present and demand recognition. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 34，Meniam-Webster, Incorporated Springfield，Massachusetts (1996).
[2]“To ratify, uphold, approve, make firm，confirm, establish, reassert；to make a solemn and formal declaration or asseveration." Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 37, West Publishing Co. (1991 ).
[3]“ To sate without proof or before proving. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. Meniam
Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 23，Merriam-Webster，Incorporated Springfield，Massachusetts (1996).
[4]“To sate (as a fact) in a pleading. " Id. at p. 23.
[5]“To maintain or justify an act." Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 77, Thomson Professional Publishing Canada (1991 ).
[6] " In pleading, to acknowledge and justify an act done." Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 92, West Publishing Co. (1991).
[7]“To give evidence under oath or affirmation at a trial, hearing, or deposition. " Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 428, Random House, New York (2000).