a. and sb. [ad. L. confirmātīv-us, f. ppl. stem of L. confirmāre: see -IVE. Cf. F. confirmatif, -ive, 16th c. in Littré.]
A. adj. Having the property of confirming, establishing, or making sure or certain.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (ed. 1), in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 172. With the celestial bond (confirmative religion) which made them one.
1654. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 235. A confirmative argument.
1755. Magens, Insurances, I. 468. The Peace of Breslau of 1742, and that of Dresden 1745, confirmative of the precedent one.
1881. Morgan, Contrib. N. Amer. Ethnol., IV. 13. They had a negative as well as a confirmative vote.
† B. sb. Something that confirms or expresses confirmation. Obs.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 236. These words, for, because, and such other confirmatiues.
1595. in Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 413. Confirmatives or ratifications of any former gifts.
Hence Confirmatively adv.
1844. S. R. Maitland, Dark Ages, 24. If … it were to be delivered confirmatively.
