affirmative

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈfɜːmətɪv/
  • (US) IPA(key): /əˈfɝmətɪv/
  • (file)

Adjective

affirmative (comparative more affirmative, superlative most affirmative)

  1. pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirming
    an affirmative answer
  2. pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result
  3. positive
    an affirmative vote
  4. Confirmative; ratifying.
    an act affirmative of common law
  5. dogmatic
    • Berkeley
      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

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Noun

affirmative (plural affirmatives)

  1. Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
    That's an affirmative Houston, the space shuttle has lost the secondary thrusters.
    10-4 good buddy. That's an affirmative - the tractor trailer is in the ditch at the side of the highway.
    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

References


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /a.fiʁ.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

affirmātīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of affirmātīvus
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