3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Affirm  \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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Affirm  \Af*firm"\  ([a^]f*f[~e]rm"),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p. 
  {Affirmed}  (-f[~e]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. 
 
  Usage:  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  affirm 
  v  1:  strengthen  or  make  more  firm  as  by  corroboration;  "his  story 
  confirmed  my  doubts"  [syn:  {confirm},  {corroborate},  {sustain}, 
  {substantiate},  {support}]  [ant:  {negate}] 
  2:  to  declare  or  affirm  as  true:  "Before  God  I  swear  I  am 
  innocent."  [syn:  {assert},  {avow},  {aver},  {swan},  {swear}] 
  3:  say  yes  to 

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