About forty years past, I began a happy affinity with William Cranmer.
Burton.
4. (Chem.) That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds; chemism; chemical or elective affinity or attraction.
5. (Nat. Hist.) A relation between species or highe&?; groups dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure, and indicating community of origin.
6. (Spiritualism) A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.
Af*firm" (f*frm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affirmed (-frmd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Affirming.] [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 appellate 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) 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.
Af*firm", 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.
Af*firm"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being affirmed, asserted, or declared; -- followed by of; as, an attribute affirmable of every just man.
Af*firm"ance (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. afermance.] 1. Confirmation; ratification; confirmation of a voidable act.
This statute . . . in affirmance of the common law.
Bacon.