'allege' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'alegier', where 'a-' meant 'to' and 'legier' meant 'to lighten or alleviate'.

'alegier' transformed into the Middle English word 'allegen', and eventually became the modern English word 'allege'.

Initially, it meant 'to lighten or alleviate', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to assert or claim'.