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af·fir·ma·tive

(ə-fûrmə-tĭv)

adj.

1. Asserting that something is true or correct, as with the answer "yes": an affirmative reply.

2. Giving assent or approval; confirming: an affirmative vote.

3. Positive; optimistic: an affirmative outlook.

4. Logic Of, relating to, or being a proposition in which the predicate affirms something about the subject, such as the statement apples have seeds.

1. A word or statement of agreement or assent, such as the word yes.

2. The side in a debate that upholds the proposition: Her team will speak for the affirmative.

adv.

Informal Used in place of the response "yes" to express confirmation or consent.

af·firma·tive·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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