Definition of: affirm

(ə·fûrm′) v.t.
1. To declare or state positively; assert and maintain to be true; aver.
2. To confirm or ratify, as a judgment or law.
—v.i.
3. Law To make a formal judicial declaration, but not under oath. [<OF afermer <L affirmare <ad- to + firmare make firm < firmus strong]
—af·firm′a·ble adjective
—af·firm′a·bly adverb
—af·firm′ance noun
—af·firm′ant adjective & noun
—af·firm′er noun Synonyms: assert, asseverate, aver, declare, depose, endorse, maintain, predicate, propound, protest, state, swear, tell, testify.
Affirm has less of egotism than assert, more solemnity than declare, and more composure than asseverate, which is to assert emphatically. In legal usage, affirm differs from affirmation after swear in not invoking the name of God. See ALLEGE, ASSERT, STATE. Antonyms: contradict, deny, dispute, gainsay, negative, oppose, refute.