Declare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declared; p. pr. & vb. n. Declaring.]
Etymology: [F. déclarer, from L. declarare; de + clarare to make clear, clarus, clear, bright. See Clear.]
1. To make clear; to free from obscurity. [Obs.] "To declare this a little." Boyle.
2. To make known by language; to communicate or manifest explicitly and plainly in any way; to exhibit; to publish; to proclaim; to announce. This day I have begot whom I declare My only Son. Milton. The heavens declare the glory of God. Ps. xix. 1.
3. To make declaration of; to assert; to affirm; to set forth; to avow; as, he declares the story to be false. I the Lord . . . declare things that are right. Isa. xlv. 19.
4. (Com.)
1 more senses
To make full statement of, as goods, etc., for the purpose of paying taxes, duties, etc. To declare off, to recede from an agreement, undertaking, contract, etc.; to renounce. -- To declare one's self, to avow one's opinion; to show openly what one thinks, or which side he espouses.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Declare, v. i.
1. To make a declaration, or an open and explicit avowal; to proclaim one's self; -- often with for or against; as, victory declares against the allies. Like fawning courtiers, for success they wait, And then come smiling, and declare for fate. Dryden.
2. (Law)
To state the plaintiff's cause of action at law in a legal form; as, the plaintiff declares in trespass.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for declare; he lists it under allege, announce, avow, speak, state.
Where he writes about it:
Declare has often an authoritative force; to declare war is to cause war to be, where before there may have been only hostilities; we say declare war, proclaim peace. — from announce
Acknowledge, admit, and declare refer either to oneself or to others; all the other words refer only to one's own knowledge or action. — from avow
It has more solemnity than declare, and more composure and dignity than asseverate, which is to assert excitedly. — from state