Af*firm"a*tive (&?;), a. [L.
affirmativus: cf. F. affirmatif.] 1.
Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common
law.
2. That affirms; asserting that the fact is so;
declaratory of what exists; answering "yes" to a question; -- opposed to
negative; as, an affirmative answer; an affirmative
vote.
3. Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] J.
Taylor.
Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of
Crito.
Berkeley.
4. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the
two terms of a proposition.
5. (Alg.) Positive; -- a term applied to
quantities which are to be added, and opposed to negative, or such
as are to be subtracted.
Af*firm"a*tive, n. 1.
That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative
proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the
proposition stated; -- opposed to negative; as, there were forty
votes in the affirmative, and ten in the negative.
Whether there are such beings or not, 't is sufficient for
my purpose that many have believed the affirmative.
Dryden.
2. A word or phrase expressing affirmation or
assent; as, yes, that is so, etc.
