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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary af·firm \\ə-ˈfərm\\ verb ETYMOLOGY Middle English affermen, from Anglo-French afermer, from Latin affirmare, from ad- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm — more at firm
DATE 14th century
transitive verb1. a. validate , confirm b. to state positively he affirmed his innocence2. to assert (as a judgment or decree) as valid or confirmed3. to express dedication to affirm lifeintransitive verb1. to testify or declare by affirmation as distinguished from swearing an oath2. to uphold a judgment or decree of a lower courtSynonyms: see assert • af·firm·able \\ə-ˈfər-mə-bəl\\ adjective• af·fir·mance \\ə-ˈfər-mən(t)s\\ noun
affirm early 14 c., from O.Fr
http://O.Fr . afermer, from L. affirmare "to make steady, strengthen, corroborate," from ad- "to" + firmare "strengthen, make firm," from firmus "strong" (see firm ( adj.)). Spelling refashioned 16 c. on L. model.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 affirmaf·firm / E5fE:m; NAmE E5fE:rm / verb ( formal)to state firmly or publicly that sth is true or that you support sth strongly 肯定属实；申明；断言 SYN confirm : ▪ [VN] Both sides affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire. 双方均申明答应停火。 ▪ [V that] I can affirm that no one will lose their job. 我可以肯定,谁都不会丢掉工作。 ▪ [also V speech] • af·firm·ation / 7AfE5meiFn; NAmE 7AfEr5m- / noun [U, C] : She nodded in affirmation. 她肯定地点了点头。
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged af·firm\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 verb1. 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 swearintransitive verb1. 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
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