Protestation /(?)/

Prot·es·ta·tion

Protestation

n.
  1. The act of making a protest; a public avowal; a solemn declaration, especially of dissent.
  2. Formerly, a declaration in common-law pleading, by which the party interposes an oblique allegation or denial of some fact, protesting that it does or does not exist, and at the same time avoiding a direct affirmation or denial. (Law)