Affirm

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: af=firm

CIDE DICTIONARY

Affirm, v. t. [OE. affermen, OF. afermer, F. affirmer, affermir, fr. L. affirmare; ad + firmare to make firm, firmus firm. See Firm.].

•  to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.  [1913 Webster]
•  To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to deny.  [1913 Webster]

  "Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive."  [1913 Webster]
•  To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See Affirmation, 4.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce; protest; avouch; confirm; establish; ratify.

Affirm, v. i. 

•  To declare or assert positively.  [1913 Webster]

  "Not that I so affirm, though so it seem
  To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate or tribunal, under the penalties of perjury; to testify by affirmation.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Affirm, v.
1 tr. assert strongly; state as a fact.
2 intr. a Law make an affirmation. b make a formal declaration.
3 tr. Law confirm, ratify (a judgement).

Derivative

affirmatory adj. affirmer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF afermer f. L affirmare (as AD-, firmus strong)

THESAURUS

Affirm

OK, accept, accredit, acknowledge, allege, amen, announce, annunciate, approve, argue, assert, assever, asseverate, attest, authenticate, authorize, autograph, aver, avouch, avow, back, back up, bear out, bear witness, bolster, buttress, certify, circumstantiate, confess, confirm, contend, corroborate, cosign, countersign, declare, declare roundly, depone, depose, disclose, document, endorse, enunciate, express, express the belief, fortify, give evidence, give notice, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, guarantee, have, hold, initial, insist, issue a manifesto, issue a statement, lay down, maintain, make a statement, make an announcement, manifesto, notarize, nuncupate, pass, pass on, pass upon, permit, predicate, probate, proclaim, profess, pronounce, protest, prove, publish a manifesto, put, put it, quote, ratify, recite, reinforce, relate, report, rubber stamp, sanction, say, say amen to, seal, second, set down, sign, sign and seal, speak, speak out, speak up, stand for, stand on, state, strengthen, submit, subscribe to, substantiate, support, sustain, swear, swear and affirm, swear to, testify, undergird, undersign, underwrite, uphold, validate, verify, visa, vise, vouch, vow, warrant, witness

ROGET THESAURUS

Affirm

Assent

VB assent, give assent, yield assent, nod assent, acquiesce, agree, receive, accept, accede, accord, concur, lend oneself to, consent, coincide, reciprocate, go with, be at one with, go along with, chime in with, strike in with, close in with, echo, enter into one's views, agree in opinion, vote, give one's voice for, recognize, subscribe to, conform to, defer to, say yes to, say ditto, amen to, say aye to, acknowledge, own, admit, allow, avow, confess, concede, come round to, abide by, permit, arrive at an understanding, come to an understanding, come to terms, come to an agreement, confirm, affirm, ratify, appprove, indorse, countersign, corroborate, go with the stream, swim with the stream, go with the flow, blow with the wind, be in fashion, join in the chorus, join the crowd, be one of the guys, be part of the group, go with the crowd, don't make waves, be in every mouth.

Affirmation

VB assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's Bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call Heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure.