declare state firmly; "He declared that he was innocent"
hold keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath"
claim,
take take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The hard work took its toll on her"
attest authenticate, affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity; "I attest this signature"
declare state firmly; "He declared that he was innocent"
assure,
tell assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence; "I assured him that traveling to Cambodia was safe"
aver -
report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money"