Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Affirmative
Af-firm′a-tive
,Adj.
[L.
affirmativus
: cf. F. affirmatif
.] 1.
Confirmative; ratifying;
as, an act
. affirmative
of common law2.
That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what exists; answering “yes” to a question; – opposed to
negative
; as, an
affirmative
answer; an affirmative
vote.3.
Positive; dogmatic.
[Obs.]
J. Taylor.
Lysicles was a little by the
affirmative
air of Crito. Berkeley.
4.
(logic)
Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
5.
(Alg.)
Positive; – a term applied to quantities which are to be added, and opposed to
negative
, or such as are to be subtracted. Af-firm′a-tive
,Noun.
1.
That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the proposition stated; – opposed to
negative
; as, there were forty votes in the
. affirmative
, and ten in the negative
Whether there are such beings or not, ’t is sufficient for my purpose that many have believed the
affirmative
. Dryden.
2.
A word or phrase expressing affirmation or assent;
as,
yes
, that is so
, etc.Webster 1828 Edition
Affirmative
AFFIRM'ATIVE
,Adj.
1.
That affirms, or asserts; declaratory of what exists; opposed to negative; as, an affirmative proposition.2.
Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law.3.
In algebra, positive; a term applied to numbers which have the sign + plus, denoting addition, and opposed to negative, or such as have the sign - minus, denoting subtraction.4.
Positive; dogmatic. Obs.AFFIRM'ATIVE
,Noun.