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Webster 1913 Edition


Affirmative

Af-firm′a-tive

,
Adj.
[L.
affirmativus
: cf. F.
affirmatif
.]
1.
Confirmative; ratifying;
as, an act
affirmative
of common law
.
2.
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.
That side of a question which affirms or maintains; opposed to negative; as, there were seventy votes in the affirmative, and thirty-five in the negative.

Definition 2024


affirmative

affirmative

English

Adjective

affirmative (comparative more affirmative, superlative most affirmative)

  1. pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirming
    an affirmative answer
  2. pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result
  3. positive
    an affirmative vote
  4. Confirmative; ratifying.
    an act affirmative of common law
  5. dogmatic
    • Berkeley
      Lysicles was a little disconcerted by the affirmative air of Crito.
  6. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
  7. (algebra) positive; not negative

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

affirmative (plural affirmatives)

  1. Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
    That's an affirmative Houston, the space shuttle has lost the secondary thrusters.
    10-4 good buddy. That's an affirmative - the tractor trailer is in the ditch at the side of the highway.
  2. (grammar) An answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
  3. (obsolete) An assertion.
    • 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.17:
      that every hare is both male and female, beside the vulgar opinion, was the affirmative of Archelaus, of Plutarch, Philostratus, and many more.

Translations

See also


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /a.fiʁ.ma.tiv/

Adjective

affirmative

  1. feminine singular of affirmatif

Latin

Adjective

affirmātīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of affirmātīvus