Said or claimed to be true without proof; supposed but not confirmed.
From Middle English aleggen, from Old French aleguer, from Latin allegare meaning 'to send as a deputy, cite.' The meaning evolved from 'to cite as evidence' to 'to assert without proof' by the 14th century.
The word 'alleged' is a legal safeguard that appears constantly in journalism and law. It allows speakers to report claims while avoiding libel, creating a linguistic buffer zone between accusation and established fact.
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