af ‧ firm /əˈfɜːm $ -ɜːrm/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: afermer , from Latin affirmare , from ad- 'to' + firmare 'to make firm' ]
1 . to state publicly that something is true SYN confirm :
The general affirmed rumors of an attack.
affirm that
A spokesman for the company affirmed that a merger was likely.
2 . to strengthen a feeling, belief, or idea:
He claims that modern physics affirms his Christian beliefs.
—affirmation /ˌæfəˈmeɪʃ ə n $ ˌæfər-/ noun [uncountable and countable]