affirm
[uh-furm]
- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of affirm
Synonyms
See more synonyms for affirm on Thesaurus.com1. aver, asseverate, depose, testify. 2. approve, endorse.
Synonym study
1. See declare.
Antonyms
1. deny.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for affirm
Contemporary Examples
Advocates claimed that it helped to preserve virtue and to affirm the application of Sharia law.
Saudi Activist Manal Al-Sharif on Why She Removed the VeilManal Al Sharif, Advancing Human Rights
October 30, 2014
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
It is said that my reply was very eloquent, but I cannot affirm that that reply was really made by me.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
Then, if we do not know it, why do we affirm that it exists?
Initiation into PhilosophyEmile Faguet
Some affirm that they inhabit now on one side of the river, now on another.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
All did him the justice to affirm that while there he behaved like a hero.
The Memoirs of Madame de Montespan, CompleteMadame La Marquise De Montespan
This I can affirm—Lucien is not the worst member of the Bonaparte family.
Memoirs of the Court of St. Cloud, CompleteLewis Goldsmith
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
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Word Origin
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