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affirm

[ uh-furm ]
/ əˈfɜrm /
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See synonyms for: affirm / affirmed / affirming / affirms on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
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.
to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement: She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.
verb (used without object)
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

First recorded in1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” (see firm1); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin

synonym study for affirm

1. See declare.

OTHER WORDS FROM affirm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to affirm

assert, confirm, declare, guarantee, insist, maintain, profess, ratify, repeat, asseverate, attest, aver, avouch, avow, certify, cinch, clinch, ice, okay, predicate

How to use affirm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affirm

affirm
/ (əˈfɜːm) /
verb (mainly tr)
(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
(intr) law to make an affirmation

Derived forms of affirm

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