English
affirmation
Affirmation comes from Latin affirmō ‘to assert’, from firmō ‘strengthen, fortify’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- ‘to support’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰer-‘to support’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fermosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmus‘strong, powerful’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmō‘strengthen, fortify’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffirmōas affirmare‘to assert’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400afermacion
- Englishearliest quotation 2026affirmation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰer-‘to support’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fermosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmus‘strong, powerful’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmō‘strengthen, fortify’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffirmōas affirmare‘to assert’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400afermacion
- Englishearliest quotation 2026affirmation
Earliest quotation: 2026, 31:02: “[Gemini:] Yes, your family group chat decided to meet…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- ‘to support’
dark, drug, dry, drama, dare, drain, throne, drone, feasible, refrain, darn, formidable, drastic, dazed, dharma, dor, dern, 38 more
through Proto-Italic *fermos
through Latin firmus ‘strong, powerful’
confirm, infirmary, infirm, firmament, 8 more
through Latin firmō ‘strengthen, fortify’
Today it means
noun That which is affirmed; a declaration that something is true.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- / affirmation