Swear after vegan offers waffles for starters (4)

I believe the answer is:
avow
'swear' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'after vegan offers waffles for starters' is the wordplay.
'for starters' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'after vegan offers waffles' is 'AVOW'.
(Other definitions for avow that I've seen before include "Affirm, swear" , "Assert, swear" , "Solemnly declare" , "Assert or confess openly" , "Solemnly promise" .)