v.
 state emphatically or publicly. 
▸Law  ratify (a judgement or agreement).
 ▸Law  make a formal declaration rather than taking an oath.
 
  Derivative
  
    - affirmation n.
  - affirmatory adj.
  - affirmer n.
 
   
  Etymology
  ME (in the sense ‘make firm’): via OFr. from L. affirmare, from ad- ‘to’ + firmus ‘strong’.