Affirm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affirmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Affirming.]
Etymology: [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 appelate 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)
2 more senses
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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Affirm, 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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for affirm; he lists it under allege, state.
Where he writes about it:
Affirm has less of egotism than assert (as seen in the word self-assertion), coming nearer to aver. — from state
In legal usage, affirm has a general agreement with depose and testify; it differs from swear in not invoking the name of God. — from state
Assure, certify, inform, apply to the person; affirm, etc., to the thing. — from state
Affirm, state, and tell have not the controversial sense of assert, but are simply declarative. — from state