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affirm

[uh-furm]
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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.
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verb (used without object)
  1. Law.
    1. to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath.
    2. to ratify and accept a voidable transaction.
    3. (of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand.
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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 formsaf·firm·a·ble, adjectiveaf·firm·a·bly, adverbaf·firm·er, nounaf·firm·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·af·firm, verbpre·af·firm, verbre·af·firm, verb (used with object)un·af·firmed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. 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

Related Words

restorerepeatextendresumereviveprolongreopencontinuerestatereestablishreaffirmexhilaratereinvigoraterecreaterefurbishremodelresuscitaterefitdiscloseclaim

Examples from the Web for re-affirm

Historical Examples

  • On the contrary, I re-affirm it; but, I offer you a divorce.

    The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

    John Reed Scott

  • Let us trace her from foundation to present eminence; re-affirm our family pledges and form resolutions new.

  • Should he cough—as the native does when he wishes to attract your attention, or to re-affirm his forgotten presence?

    Cupid in Africa

    P. C. Wren

British Dictionary definitions for re-affirm

affirm

verb (mainly tr)
  1. (may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
  2. to uphold, confirm, or ratify
  3. (intr) law to make an affirmation
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Derived Formsaffirmer or affirmant, noun

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for re-affirm

v.

also reaffirm, 1610s, "to confirm anew," from re- "back, again" + affirm. Meaning "to assert anew" is recorded from 1842. Related: Reaffirmed; reaffirming.

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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