affirmation

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Affirmation

A solemn and formal declaration of the truth of a statement, such as an Affidavit or the actual or prospective testimony of a witness or a party that takes the place of an oath. An affirmation is also used when a person cannot take an oath because of religious convictions.

affirmation

noun absolute assertion, acquiescence, adfirmatio, adjurement, affirmance, approval, assertion, assertory oath, asseveration, attest, attestation, authentication, averment, avouchment, avowal, certification, confirmation, declaration, deposition, establishment, factual statement, formal declaaation, legal evidence, legal pledge, oath, oath-giving, oath-taking, positive statement, predication, profession, pronouncement, ratification, solemn affirmation, solemn averment, solemn avowal, solemn declaration, statement, statement on oath, substantiation, swearing, sworn eviience, sworn statement, testification, testimonial, testimony, validation, verification
Associated concepts: affirmation of fact, affirmation to a will, attorney's affirmation
Foreign phrases: Affirmatio unius exclusio est alterius.The af firmance of one thing is the exclusion of the other.

affirmation

a solemn declaration for those who do not want to take an oath. The penalties for false declarations are usually similar to those for perjury.

AFFIRMATION, practice. A solemn declaration and asseveration, which a witness makes before an officer, competent to administer an oath in a like case, to tell the truth, as if be had been sworn.
     2. In the United States, generally, all witnesses who declare themselves conscientiously scrupulous against taking a corporal oath, are permitted to make a solemn affirmation, and this in all cases, as well criminal as civil.
     3. In England, laws have been enacted which partially relieve persons who, have conscientious scruples against taking an oath, and authorize them to make affirmation. In France, the laws which allow freedom of religious opinion, have received the liberal construction that all persons are to be sworn or affirmed according to the dictates of their consciences; and a quaker's affirmation has been received and held of the same effect as an oath. Merl. Quest. de Droit, mot Serment, Sec. 1.
     4. The form is to this effect: "You, A B, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm," &c. For the violation of the truth in such case, the witness is subject to the punishment of perjury as if he had been sworn.
     5. Affirmation also means confirming; as, an affirmative statute.

References in classic literature ?

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States

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It was an affirmation, a moral victory paid for by innumerable defeats, by abominable terrors, by abominable satisfac- tions.

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Nothing can pass there, or make you one of the circle, but the casting aside your trappings, and dealing man to man in naked truth, plain confession, and omniscient affirmation.

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He changed the course, and I signalled affirmation when the speck showed dead ahead.

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For the psychologists, on the contrary, affirmation is the fundamental act; the concept is the result of judgment (explicit or implicit), of similarities with exclusion of differences.

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Saxon nodded affirmation, and a great light seemed suddenly to kindle in her understanding.

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Her answer to this, on her own solemn affirmation, is as plain as words can be.

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To the sentiment of being alone of one's kind, to the clear perception of the loneliness of one's thoughts, of one's sensations--to the negation of the habitual, which is safe, there is added the affirmation of the unusual, which is dangerous; a suggestion of things vague, uncontrollable, and repulsive, whose discomposing intrusion excites the imagination and tries the civilized nerves of the foolish and the wise alike.

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At the expiration of that term, the morning being very bright and sunny, he was heard to address himself to the horses in the stable, upon the subject of the Kettle, so often mentioned in these pages; and before the witness who overheard him could run into the house with the intelligence, and add to it upon his solemn affirmation the statement that he had heard him laugh, the bird himself advanced with fantastic steps to the very door of the bar, and there cried, 'I'm a devil, I'm a devil, I'm a devil

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That is saying too much: such hazardous affirmations are a proof of the excitement under which you labour.

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After playing lady's-maid to the new-comer, and putting my cakes in the oven, and making the house and kitchen cheerful with great fires, befitting Christmas-eve, I prepared to sit down and amuse myself by singing carols, all alone; regardless of Joseph's affirmations that he considered the merry tunes I chose as next door to songs.

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All the vital rights of minorities and of individuals are so plainly assured to them by affirmations and negations, guaranties and prohibitions, in the Constitution, that controversies never arise concerning them.