The act of swearing an oath or placing someone under oath; the state of being bound by a sworn agreement or legal pledge.
From Medieval Latin affidātiō, a nominalization of affidāre 'to entrust under oath.' The suffix -tion indicates an action or process, and the term was used in medieval and early modern legal contexts to describe oath-taking ceremonies.
In medieval times, 'affidation' was like signing a contract but way more serious—you literally swore before God and witnesses that you'd keep a secret or protect something, and breaking an affidation could get you executed or excommunicated.
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