Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for affirm on Thesaurus.com to state or assert positively; maintain as true: to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well. to confirm or ratify: The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court. to assert solemnly: He affirmed his innocence. to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support: to affirm human rights. Show More
verb (used without object) Law to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath. to ratify and accept a voidable transaction. (of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand. Show More
Origin of affirm 1300–50; <
Latin affirmāre, equivalent to
af- af- +
firmāre to make firm (see
firm1 ); replacing
Middle English a(f )
fermen <
Middle French afermer <
Latin Related forms af·firm·a·ble , adjective af·firm·a·bly , adverb af·firm·er , noun af·firm·ing·ly , adverb o·ver·af·firm , verb pre·af·firm , verb re·af·firm , verb (used with object) un·af·firmed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for affirm repeat ,
confirm ,
ratify ,
insist ,
assert ,
maintain ,
profess ,
declare ,
guarantee ,
attest ,
predicate ,
avow ,
set ,
avouch ,
certify ,
pronounce ,
vouch ,
ice ,
testify ,
state Examples from the Web for affirm Contemporary Examples of affirm Advocates claimed that it helped to preserve virtue and to affirm the application of Sharia law.
What is worse, it does so only to affirm sexist stereotypes.
So when we progress, when we affirm ourselves, we should not threaten them.
I believe this because these ideals that we affirm are true.
They are demanding that the rest of us affirm their bad theology and codify it in the law.
Historical Examples of affirm It is said that my reply was very eloquent, but I cannot affirm that that reply was really made by me.
Then, if we do not know it, why do we affirm that it exists?
Some affirm that they inhabit now on one side of the river, now on another.
All did him the justice to affirm that while there he behaved like a hero.
This I can affirm —Lucien is not the worst member of the Bonaparte family.
British Dictionary definitions for affirm (may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively to uphold, confirm, or ratify (intr) law to make an affirmation Show More
Derived Forms affirmer or affirmant , noun Word Origin for affirm C14: via Old French from Latin affirmāre to present (something) as firm or fixed, assert, from ad- to + firmāre to make firm 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for affirm v. c.1300, from Old French afermier (Modern French affirmer ) "affirm, confirm; strengthen, consolidate," from Latin affirmare "to make steady, strengthen," figuratively "confirm, corroborate," from ad- "to" (see ad- ) + firmare "strengthen, make firm," from firmus "strong" (see firm (adj.)). Spelling refashioned 16c. in French and English on Latin model. Related: Affirmed ; affirming .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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