different between affirmative vs affirm

English

Etymology

From Middle English affirmative, affirmatyve, from Old French affirmatif, from Latin affirmativus, from affirmare (“to assert”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??f??m?t?v/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??f?m?t?v/

Adjective

affirmative (comparative more affirmative, superlative most affirmative)

1. pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirming

2. pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result
3. positive

4. Confirmative; ratifying.

5. dogmatic
   • 1732, George Berkeley, Alciphron, or the Minute Philosopher

     Lysicles was a little disconcerted by the affirmative air of Crito.

6. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
7. (algebra) positive; not negative

Derived terms

• affirmative action
• affirmatively

Translations

Noun

affirmative (plural affirmatives)

1. Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.

   Antonym: negative

2. (grammar) An answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
3. (obsolete) An assertion.
   • 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.17:

     that every hare is both male and female, beside the vulgar opinion, was the affirmative of Archelaus, of Plutarch, Philostratus, and many more.

Translations

Interjection

affirmative

1. An elaborate synonym for the word yes.
2. (military, especially radio communications) Yes; true; correct.

See also

• affirmative sentence

References

• affirmative at OneLook Dictionary Search

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.fi?.ma.tiv/

Adjective

affirmative

1. feminine singular of affirmatif

German

Adjective

affirmative

1. inflection of affirmativ:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Latin

Adjective

affirm?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of affirm?t?vus

English

Etymology

From Middle English affirmen, affermen, from Old French afermer, affermer, from Latin affirmare, adfirmare (“to present as fixed, aver, affirm”), from ad (“to”) + firmare (“to make firm”), from firmus (“firm”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??f?m/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??f??m/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m

Verb

affirm (third-person singular simple present affirms, present participle affirming, simple past and past participle affirmed)

1. To agree, verify or concur; to answer positively.

   She affirmed that she would go when I asked her.

2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true.
3. To support or encourage.

   They did everything they could to affirm the children's self-confidence.

4. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; especially (law) to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.

Synonyms

• validate

Antonyms

• disaffirm
• deny (of 1,2)
• repudiate (of 2)
• invalidate (of 4)

Related terms

• affirmation
• affirmative

Translations

See also

• affirmative action
• confirm

Further reading

• affirm in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• affirm in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• affirm at OneLook Dictionary Search