To cite or quote an author or his work for or against.
3
To lighten, diminish.
and suffir never your soveraynté to be alledged with your subjects,
Word Origin
From Middle English aleggen, perhaps from Old French alleguer, or from Anglo-Norman aleger, the form perhaps from Old French esligier (“to acquit”), from Medieval Latin *exlītigāre (“to clear at law”)...