affirmo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [afˈfɪr.moː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [afˈfir.mo]^[1]

Forms

affirmō (present infinitive affirmāre, perfect active affirmāvī, supine affirmātum); first conjugation^[1] It is also spelled adfirmō.^[2]

Etymology

It is from ad- and firmō “to strengthen”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of asserting.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it meant to assert positively, affirm, swear, promise, and in Livy to confirm.^[2] In Quintilian a word or gesture expresses affirmation, and in Apuleius it meant to strengthen physically.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to affirm, prove, support, strengthen.^[5] It survives in Italian affermare, French affirmer and Spanish afirmar, and through Old French it gave English affirm about 1300, first “to decide upon”.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of asserting.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of confirming.^[2][4]
• c. 1300 – English affirm is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To confirm.^[2]
2. To assert, affirm; to swear.^[2]
3. To express affirmation.^[2]
4. To strengthen.^[2]

Word family

• affirmātiō
• affirmātīvus
• affirmator
• affirmanter
• affirmātē

Related words

• firmō
• firmus
• cōnfirmō
• English affirm

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson