Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AF-FIRM'A-BLY, adv.

In a way capable of affirmation.

AF-FIRM'ANCE, n.

1. Confirmation; ratification; as, the affirmance of a judgment; a statute in affirmance of common law.
2. Declaration; affirmation. [Little used.] – Selden. Cowper.

AF-FIRM'ANT, n.

One who affirms.

AF-FIRM-A'TION, n.

1. The act of affirming or asserting as true; opposed to negation or denial. – Shak.
2. That which is asserted; position declared as true; averment. – Hammond.
3. Confirmation; ratification; an establishment of what had been before done or decreed. – Hooker.
4. A solemn declaration made under the penalties of perjury, by persons who conscientiously decline taking an oath; which affirmation is in law equivalent to testimony given under oath.

AF-FIRM'A-TIVE, a.

1. That affirms, or asserts; declaratory of what exists; opposed to negative; as, an affirmative proposition.
2. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law.
3. In algebra, positive; a term applied to numbers which have the sign + plus, denoting addition, and opposed to negative, or such as have the sign - minus, denoting subtraction.
4. Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] – Taylor.

AF-FIRM'A-TIVE, n.

That side of a question which affirms or maintains; opposed to negative; as, there were seventy votes in the affirmative, and thirty-five in the negative.

AF-FIRM'A-TIVE-LY, adv.

In an affirmative manner; positively; on the affirmative side of a question; opposed to negatively.

AF-FIRM'ED, pp.

Declared; asserted; averred; confirmed; ratified.

AF-FIRM'ER, n.

One who affirms.

AF-FIRM'ING, ppr.

Asserting; declaring positively; confirming.

AF'FIX, n.

A syllable or letter added to the end of a word.

AF-FIX', v.t. [L. affigo, affixum, of ad and figo, to fix; Gr. πηγω, πηγνυω, πηξω; Eng. peg. See Fix.]

1. To unite at the end; to subjoin, annex, or add at the close; to affix a syllable to a word; affix a seal to an instrument.
2. To attach, unite, or connect with, as names affixed to ideas, or ideas affixed to things.
3. To fix or fasten in any manner. In this sense, fix is more generally used.

AF-FIX'ED, pp.

United at the end; annexed; attached.

AF-FIX'ING, ppr.

Uniting at the end; subjoining; attaching.

AF-FIX'ION, n.

The act of uniting at the end, or state of being so united. [Little used.]

AF-FIX'TURE, n.

That which is affixed. – Drake.

AF-FLA'TION, n. [L. afflo, afflatum, of ad and flo; Eng. blow. See Blow.]

A blowing or breathing on.

AF-FLA'TUS, n. [L.]

1. A breath or blast of wind.
2. Inspiration; communication of divine knowledge, or the power of prophecy. – Spence.

AF-FLICT', v.t. [L. affligo, afflicto, of ad and fligo, to strike; Eng. flog; Gr. Eol. φλεγω, to strike; Gr. πληγη, L. plaga, a stroke; Goth. flekan, to strike. Hence, Ger. flegel; D. vlegel; Engl. flail, g being suppressed; L. flagellum. See Flog.]

1. To give to the body or mind pain which is continued or of some permanence; to grieve, or distress; as, one is afflicted with the gout, or with melancholy, or with losses and misfortunes. They afflict thy heritage, O Lord. – Ps. xcv.
2. To trouble; to harass; to distress.

AF-FLICT'ED, pp.

Affected with continued or often repeated pain, either of body or mind; suffering grief or distress of any kind; followed by at, by, or with; as, afflicted at the death of a child, by the rheumatism, or with losses.

AF-FLICT'ED-NESS, n.

The state of being afflicted; but superseded by affliction.

AF-FLICT'ER, n.

One who afflicts, or causes pain of body or of mind.

AF-FLICT'ING, a.

Grievous; distressing; as, an afflicting event.

AF-FLICT'ING, ppr.

Causing continued or durable pain or body or of mind; grieving; distressing.

AF-FLIC'TION, n.

1. The state of being afflicted; a state of pain, distress, or grief; as, some virtues are seen only in affliction.
2. The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, calamity, adversity, persecution. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. – Ps. xxxiv.