affidavit

Meaning

Noun

• A signed document wherein an affiant makes a sworn statement.

Origin

• From Medieval Latin affidavit ("he has sworn"), the third person singular perfect tense of affido, from fīdō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ- ("to command, to persuade, to trust"). Cognate to fidelity and faith (same Latin root), but not to affirm (shared Latin ad- prefix, but different Latin and Proto-Indo-European roots).