affirm

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
  2. verb to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  3. verb say yes to

Etymology

From Middle English 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”). By surface analysis, af- + firm.

In classic literature

Synonyms

confirm, corroborate, sustain, substantiate, support

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