State to be the case
I believe the answer is:
aver
'state to be the case' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for aver that I've seen before include "'Affirm, assert (4)'" , "Assert to be the case" , "possessions once" , "State firmly, maybe rave" , "Maintain - state" .)