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affirm - 6 dictionary results
af⋅firm
[uh-furm] 
–verb (used with object)
| 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 appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court. |
| 3. | to assert solemnly: He affirmed his innocence. |
| 4. | to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support: to affirm human rights. |
–verb (used without object)
| 5. | Law.
|
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To affirm
| af·firm (ə-fûrm') v. af·firmed, af·firm·ing, af·firms v. tr.
To declare solemnly and formally but not under oath. [Middle English affermen, from Old French afermer, from Latin affirmāre : ad-, ad- + firmāre, to strengthen (from firmus, strong; see dher- in Indo-European roots).] af·firm'a·ble adj., af·firm'a·bly adv., af·fir'mant adj. & n., af·firm'er n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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. 2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to deny. Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive. --Acts xxv. 19. 3. (Law) To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See Affirmation, 4. 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.Affirm
Af*firm"\, v. i. 1. To declare or assert positively. Not that I so affirm, though so it seem To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth. --Milton. 2. (Law) To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate or tribunal, under the penalties of perjury; to testify by affirmation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : affirm
Spanish:
afirmar,
German:
beteuern, zusichern,
Japanese:
断言する
affirm
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: af·firm
Pronunciation: &-'f&rm
Function: transitive verb
1 : to assert as true or factual
2 : to assert (as a judgment) as valid or confirmed <affirmed the lower court's ruling> —compare REMAND, REVERSE intransitive verb 1 : to make a solemn declaration under the penalties of perjury in place of swearing an oath to which one conscientiously objects
2 : to uphold the judgment or actions of a lower court
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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