■ adjective
1》 agreeing with or consenting to a statement or request.
↘ Grammar & Logic stating that a fact is so. Contrasted with negative and interrogative .
2》 denoting proposed legislation which must receive an ~ parliamentary vote before it can come into force.
■ noun an ~ statement or word.
↘ Logic a statement asserting that something is true of the subject of a proposition.
■ exclamation chiefly N. Amer. yes.
Phrases
in the ~ so as to accept or agree to a statement or request.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
ME (in the sense 'assertive, positive'): via OFr. from late L. affirmativus , from affirmare (see affirm ).