[a. OFr. afermance, -aunce, later affermance, f. afermer: see AFFIRM and -ANCE.]

1

  1.  A confirming.

2

1531.  Elyot, Governor, II. xiv. (1557), 139. To the affirmaunce whereof they adde to others.

3

1659.  Godfrey, in Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 541. Rather an affirmance than an exclusion of the old peerage.

4

1794.  Paley, Evid., I. II. i. § 7 (1817), 327. Which come merely in affirmance of opinions already formed.

5

1824.  H. Campbell, Love-lett. Mary Q. of Scots, 295. An affirmance or corroboration of all that has been added by his predecessors against Mary.

6

  2.  esp. Of laws, verdicts, etc.: Ratification.

7

1528.  Perkins, Profit. Bk., v. § 377 (1642), 163. That statute is but an affirmance of ye common law in that point.

8

1657.  Burton, in Diary (1828), II. 19. The Countess’s Jury brought in another and a raging verdict … in affirmance of the private verdict they had given.

9

1798.  Dallas, Rep., II. 84. Detinue and replevin are actions in affirmance of property.

10

1808.  Bentham, Sc. Reform, 112. The affirmance or reversal of the decree appealed from.

11

  3.  An assertion, a strong declaration.

12

1494.  Fabyan, I. xxvi. 18. Here now endyth ye lyne or ofspryng of Brute, after ye affermaunce of moste wryters.

13

1553–87.  Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 182/2. One named Joannes de temporibus, which by the affirmance of most of our old histories, liued 361 yeers.

14

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olbion, Notes ii. 34. Of whom Bale dares offer affirmance, that … hee first taught the Britons to make Beere.

15

1781.  Cowper, Convers., 65. They swear it, till affirmance breeds a doubt.

16

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, II. xiv. 258. His lightest affirmance would weigh down the most solemn protestations of the distressed Jewess.

17