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Webster 1913 Edition


Affirm

Af-firm′

(ăf-fẽrm′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Affirmed
(-fẽrmd′)
;
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.
– 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.

Af-firm′

,
Verb.
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 1828 Edition


Affirm

AFFIRM

,
Verb.
T.
afferm' [L. affirmo; ad and firmo, to make firm. See Firm.]
1.
To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to declare the existence of something; to maintain as true; opposed to deny.
Of one Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts 25.
2.
To make firm; to establish, confirm or ratify; as, the Supreme court affirmed the judgment.

Definition 2024


affirm

affirm

English

Verb

affirm (third-person singular simple present affirms, present participle affirming, simple past and past participle affirmed)

  1. To agree, verify or concur; to answer positively.
    She affirmed that she would go when I asked her.
  2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true.
    • Bible, Acts xxv. 19
      Jesus, [] whom Paul affirmed to be alive
  3. To support or encourage.
    They did everything they could to affirm the children's self-confidence.
  4. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; especially (law) to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations

See also