Part 224

<hw>Af*firm"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Affirmed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Affirming</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>affermen</ets>, OF. <ets>afermer</ets>, F. <ets>affirmer</ets>, <ets>affermir</ets>, fr. L. <ets>affirmare</ets>; <ets>ad + firmare</ets> to make firm, <ets>firmus</ets> firm. See <er>Firm</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; esp. <fld>(Law)</fld>, <def>to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appelate court for review.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to <i>deny</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Jesus, . . . whom Paul <b>affirmed</b> to be alive. <i>Acts xxv. 19.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See <er>Affirmation</er>, <er>4</er>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce; protest; avouch; confirm; establish; ratify.</syn> <usage> -- To <er>Affirm</er>, <er>Asseverate</er>, <er>Aver</er>, <er>Protest</er>. We <i>affirm</i> when we declare a thing as a fact or a proposition. We <i>asseverate</i> it in a peculiarly earnest manner, or with increased positiveness as what can not be disputed. We <i>aver</i> it, or formally declare it to be true, when we have positive knowledge of it. We <i>protest</i> in a more public manner and with the energy of perfect sincerity. People <i>asseverate</i> in order to produce a conviction of their veracity; they <i>aver</i> when they are peculiarly desirous to be believed; they <i>protest</i> when they wish to free themselves from imputations, or to produce a conviction of their innocence.</usage>

<h1>Affirm</h1> <Xpage=28>

<hw>Af*firm"</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To declare or assert positively.</def>

<blockquote>Not that I so <b>affirm</b>, though so it seem To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate or tribunal, under the penalties of perjury; to testify by affirmation.</def>

<h1>Affirmable</h1> <Xpage=28>

<hw>Af*firm"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being affirmed, asserted, or declared; -- followed by <i>of</i>; <as>as, an attribute <ex>affirmable</ex> of every just man</as>.</def>

<h1>Affirmance</h1> <Xpage=28>

<hw>Af*firm"ance</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OF. <ets>afermance</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Confirmation; ratification; confirmation of a voidable act.</def>

<blockquote>This statute . . . in <b>affirmance</b> of the common law. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A strong declaration; affirmation.</def>

<i>Cowper.</i>

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<h1>Affirmant</h1> <Xpage=29>

<hw>Af*firm"ant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>affirmans</ets>, <ets>-antis</ets>, p. pr. See <er>Affirm</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who affirms or asserts.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>One who affirms of taking an oath.</def>

<h1>Affirmation</h1> <Xpage=29>

<hw>Af`fir*ma"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>affirmatio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>affirmation</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Confirmation of anything established; ratification; <as>as, the <ex>affirmation</ex> of a law</as>.</def>

<i>Hooker.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The act of affirming or asserting as true; assertion; -- opposed to <i>negation</i> or <i>denial</i>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>That which is asserted; an assertion; a positive <?/tatement; an averment; <as>as, an <ex>affirmation</ex>, by the vender, of title to property sold, or of its quality</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>A solemn declaration made under the penalties of perjury, by persons who conscientiously decline taking an oath, which declaration is in law equivalent to an oath.</def>

<i>Bouvier.</i>

<h1>Affirmative</h1> <Xpage=29>