Affirm

  

         

  

               1330, from O.Fr. afermer, from L. affirmare "to make steady, strengthen, corroborate," from ad- "to" + firmare "strengthen, make firm," from firmus "strong" (see firm (adj.)). Spelling refashioned 16c. on L. model. Affirmation in law, the Quaker alternative to oath-taking, is attested from 1695. Affirmative "answering yes" is from c,1400, from use in logic; affirmative action "positive effort by employers to prevent discrimination against minority groups in hiring or promotion" is from 1935; now often used more generally for policies such as hiring quotas.