Af*firm" (ăf*f&etilde;rm"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Affirmed (-f&etilde;rmd");
p. pr. & vb. n. Affirming.] [OE. affermen,
OF. afermer, F. affirmer, affermir, fr. L.
affirmare; ad + firmare to make firm, firmus
firm. See Firm.] 1. To make firm; to confirm, or
ratify; esp. (Law), to assert or confirm, as a judgment,
decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.
2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence;
to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to deny.
Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Acts xxv. 19.
3. (Law) To declare, as a fact, solemnly,
under judicial sanction. See Affirmation, 4.
Syn. -- To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce;
protest; avouch; confirm; establish; ratify. -- To Affirm,
Asseverate, Aver, Protest. We affirm when we
declare a thing as a fact or a proposition. We asseverate it in a
peculiarly earnest manner, or with increased positiveness as what can not
be disputed. We aver it, or formally declare it to be true, when we
have positive knowledge of it. We protest in a more public manner
and with the energy of perfect sincerity. People asseverate in order
to produce a conviction of their veracity; they aver when they are
peculiarly desirous to be believed; they protest when they wish to
free themselves from imputations, or to produce a conviction of their
innocence.
Af*firm", v. i. 1. To
declare or assert positively.
Not that I so affirm, though so it seem
To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth.
Milton.
2. (Law) To make a solemn declaration,
before an authorized magistrate or tribunal, under the penalties of
perjury; to testify by affirmation.
