əˈfərm, -ə̄m, -əim also aˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin affirmare ) of Middle English affermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin affirmare, from ad- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm — more at firm
transitive verb
1.
a. : validate , confirm
he was affirmed as a candidate
b. : to state positively or with confidence : declare as a fact : assert to be true
science has become too complex to affirm the existence of universal truths — Henry Adams
we cannot affirm that this is the later play — T.S.Eliot
— opposed to deny
c. : to assert as valid or confirmed (as a judgment, decree, or order brought before an appellate court for review) — compare modify , reverse
d. : to testify to or declare by affirmation — distinguished from swear
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to declare or assert positively
we must work and affirm , but we have no guess of the value of what we say or do — R.W.Emerson
b. : to testify or declare by affirmation
a court ruling that atheists may affirm
2. : to uphold a judgment or decree of a lower court
the Court of Appeals affirmed — New York Certified Public Accountant
Synonyms: see assert , swear