Affirm

Affirm
Affirm Af*firm" ([a^]f*f[~e]rm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Affirmed} (-f[~e]rmd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Affirming}.] [OE. affermen, OF. afermer, F. affirmer, affermir, fr. L. affirmare; ad + firmare to make firm, firmus firm. See {Firm}.] 1. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; esp. (Law), to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review. [1913 Webster]

2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to {deny}. [1913 Webster]

Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive. --Acts xxv. 19. [1913 Webster]

3. (Law) To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See {Affirmation}, 4. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce; protest; avouch; confirm; establish; ratify.

Usage: To {Affirm}, {Asseverate}, {Aver}, {Protest}. We affirm when we declare a thing as a fact or a proposition. We asseverate it in a peculiarly earnest manner, or with increased positiveness as what can not be disputed. We aver it, or formally declare it to be true, when we have positive knowledge of it. We protest in a more public manner and with the energy of perfect sincerity. People asseverate in order to produce a conviction of their veracity; they aver when they are peculiarly desirous to be believed; they protest when they wish to free themselves from imputations, or to produce a conviction of their innocence. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • affirm — af·firm /ə fərm/ vt 1: to assert as true or factual 2: to assert (as a judgment) as valid or confirmed affirm ed the lower court s ruling compare remand, reverse …   Law dictionary

  • Affirm — Af*firm , v. i. 1. To declare or assert positively. [1913 Webster] Not that I so affirm, though so it seem To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. (Law) To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • affirm — (v.) c.1300, from O.Fr. afermier (Mod.Fr. affirmer) affirm, confirm; strengthen, consolidate, from L. affirmare to make steady, strengthen, figuratively confirm, corroborate, from ad to (see AD (Cf. ad )) + firmare strengthen, make firm, from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • affirm — profess, aver, avow, protest, avouch, declare , *assert, warrant, predicate Analogous words: attest, *certify, vouch, witness: state (see RELATE) Antonyms: deny Contrasted words: contradict, negative, traverse, gainsay (see DENY): dispute, debate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • affirm — [v] declare the truth of something assert, asseverate, attest, aver, avouch, avow, certify, cinch, clinch, confirm, cross heart, declare, guarantee, have a lock on*, ice*, insist, lock up*, maintain, nail down*, okay, predicate, profess,… …   New thesaurus

  • affirm — ► VERB 1) state emphatically or publicly. 2) Law make a formal declaration rather than taking an oath. DERIVATIVES affirmation noun. ORIGIN Latin affirmare, from firmus strong …   English terms dictionary

  • affirm — [ə fʉrm′] vt. [ME affermen < OFr affermer < L affirmare, to present as fixed < ad , to + firmare, to make firm < firmus: see FIRM1] 1. to say positively; declare firmly; assert to be true: opposed to DENY 2. to make valid; confirm;… …   English World dictionary

  • affirm — UK [əˈfɜː(r)m] / US [əˈfɜrm] verb [transitive] Word forms affirm : present tense I/you/we/they affirm he/she/it affirms present participle affirming past tense affirmed past participle affirmed 1) formal to state that something is true or that… …   English dictionary

  • affirm — affirmable, adj. affirmably, adv. affirmer, n. affirmingly, adv. /euh ferrm /, v.t. 1. to state or assert positively; maintain as true: to affirm one s loyalty to one s country; He affirmed that all was well. 2. to confirm or ratify: The… …   Universalium

  • affirm — verb Affirm is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑court Affirm is used with these nouns as the object: ↑belief, ↑commitment, ↑conviction, ↑decision, ↑existence, ↑faith, ↑identity, ↑importance, ↑right …   Collocations dictionary

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