affirm

[uh-furm] /əˈfɜrm/
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.
verb (used without object)
5.
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.
Origin
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 forms
affirmable, adjective
affirmably, adverb
affirmer, noun
affirmingly, adverb
overaffirm, verb
preaffirm, verb
reaffirm, verb (used with object)
unaffirmed, adjective
Synonyms
1. aver, asseverate, depose, testify. See declare. 2. approve, endorse.
Antonyms
1. deny.
Examples from the web for affirm
  • Writers are in a position to affirm their experiences.
  • Evolution only affirms that living things are governed by a unifying law.
  • The rabble shouts encouragement, aware that it is participating in a ritual act designed to re-affirm community bonds.
  • Whether talks begin with three, four or five countries, the Madrid summiteers will affirm that the door remains open.
  • The country's top soldiers made a special visit to affirm their loyalty.
  • The new observations affirm that Titan is one of the likeliest places to look for life in our solar system.
  • Users had to affirm they were 18 or older to use the link.
  • They do more to affirm stereotypes than to subvert them.
  • Colleges affirm that relationship by addressing whole families in their literature and offering orientation sessions for parents.
  • Under penalty of perjury, I hereby affirm that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
British Dictionary definitions for affirm

affirm

/əˈfɜːm/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
2.
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
3.
(intransitive) (law) to make an affirmation
Derived Forms
affirmer, 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 firm1
Word Origin and History for 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.