1330, from O.Fr.
afermer, from L.
affirmare "to make steady, strengthen, corroborate," from
ad- "to" +
firmare "strengthen, make firm," from
firmus "strong" (see
firm (adj.)). Spelling refashioned 16c. on L. model.
Affirmation in law, the Quaker alternative to oath-taking, is attested from 1695.
Affirmative "answering yes" is from c,1400, from use in logic;
affirmative action "positive effort by employers to prevent discrimination against minority groups in hiring or promotion" is from 1935; now often used more generally for policies such as hiring quotas.
[uh-furm] 
