Assert and Protest

verb

• State categorically.
  • synonyms: asseverate, maintain
• To declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true.
  • usage: "Before God I swear I am innocent"
  • synonyms: affirm, verify, avow, aver, swan, swear
• Insist on having one's opinions and rights recognized.
  • usage: "Women should assert themselves more"
  • synonyms: put forward
• Assert to be true.
  • usage: "The letter asserts a free society"
  • synonyms: insist

• (v.t.) To maintain; to defend.
• (v.t.) To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights and liberties.
• (v.t.) To affirm; to declare with assurance or plainly and strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate.

noun

• A formal and solemn declaration of objection.
  • usage: "they finished the game under protest to the league president"; "the senator rose to register his protest"; "the many protestations did not stay the execution"
  • synonyms: protestation
• The act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent.
  • synonyms: objection, dissent
• The act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval.
  • usage: "he shouted his protests at the umpire"; "a shower of protest was heard from the rear of the hall"

verb

• Utter words of protest.
• Express opposition through action or words.
  • usage: "dissent to the laws of the country"
  • synonyms: resist, dissent
• Affirm or avow formally or solemnly.
  • usage: "The suspect protested his innocence"

• (v.t.) To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty.
• (v.) A declaration made by the master of a vessel before a notary, consul or other authorized officer, upon his arrival in port after a disaster, stating the particulars of it, and showing that any damage or loss sustained was not owing to the fault of the vessel, her officers or crew, but to the perils of the sea, etc., ads the case may be, and protesting against them.
• (v.t.) To call as a witness in affirming or denying or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.
• (v.i.) To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes.
• (v.) A declaration made by a party, before or while paying a tax, duty or the like, demanded of him, which he deems illegal, denying the justice of the demand, and asserting his rights and claims, in order to show that the payment was not voluntary.
• (v.) A solemn declaration in writing, in due form, made by a notary public, usually under his notarial seal, on behalf of the holder of a bill or note, protesting against all parties liable for any loss or damage by the nonacceptance or nonpayment of the bill or by the nonpayment of the note, as the case may be.
• (v.i.) To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.
• (v.) A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as, the protest of lords in Parliament.

Instructions given to a collecting bank that drafts falling due for payment are to be formally presented to the drawee by a notary, who is to formally record any default.