Alleges (6)
I believe the answer is:
claims
'alleges' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for claims that I've seen before include "'Asserts, avers (6)'" , "States firmly, insisting on truth" , "Asserts as a right" , "Requests as one's right" , "Assertions of ownership" .)