vt. & vi.断言，宣称；辩解 state sth as a fact but without proof; give as an excuse

　～ illness　称病
　～ one's innocence　声称是无辜的
　～ heatedly　激动地宣称
　～ insistently　坚持辩解
　～ irrelevantly　不相干地辩解
　～ pointlessly　无意义地辩解
　～ repeatedly　又一次地宣称

　So they allege, but do they have any proof?　他们这样说，但是他们有无证据呢?

　He alleged his innocence at the police station.　他在警察局声称他是无辜的。
　The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.　那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
　In his defense he alleged temporary insanity.　他伪称一时精神错乱，为自己辩解。

　The newspapers allege that the police shot the suspect without warning.　报纸声称警察未加警告就开枪打死了嫌疑犯。
　The newspaper alleges that the criminal has escaped.　报纸报道那名罪犯已经逃跑了。
　They alleged that Abell was a spy.　他们声称艾贝尔是间谍。
　They allege that he is guilty of theft but they have given no proof.　他们硬说他犯有盗窃罪，但拿不出任何证据。
　In her statement she alleges that the accused was seen at the scene of the crime.　她在供述中声称，有人在作案现场看见了被告。
　The complaint alleged that they had intimidated Mrs. Tatum from voting.　原告控诉书声称，他们恐吓塔特姆太太，阻止她去投票。
　Some critics alleged that since he wrote The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck has lost his fire.　一些批评家断言，斯坦贝克自从写了《愤怒的葡萄》之后就丧失了激情。
　The old lady insistently alleged that her daughter was murdered.　那老太太坚持说她的女儿是被谋杀的。

　Nearly 500 public officials were alleged to be members of an illegal society.　据称大约有500名公务员是非法社团的成员。

　It's hard to find proof for his alleged innocence.　很难发现证据证明他是无辜的。

 ♣ allege, affirm, assert, claim, declare
　这组词都有“以某种肯定口气提出…”的意思，它们之间的区别是：
1. allege表示“声称，伪称”，常有借口的意思。例如：
　He alleged illness for a reason for not going to work.　他称病，以此作为不去工作的理由。
2. affirm表示“肯定，断言”，指坚信不疑因而断言。例如：
　It may be safely affirmed that he is innocent.　可以断言，他是无罪的。
3. assert表示“主张，断言”，指宣称某事如此，并不说它是事实，着重主观自信心。例如：
　He asserts the cause of liberty.　他主张自由主义。
4. claim表示“宣称”，语气比assert弱些。例如：
　He claimed to be the rightful heir.　他声称自己是合法继承人。
5. declare意味着因否认某事而郑重地宣称。例如：
　He declared that he had not done it.　他声称他没干这事。