A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1460, 1531-1629, 1686
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Affirm(e, v. Also: effirm. [e.m.E. affirme (early 16th c.), F. affirmer, L. affirmāre. Cf. the earlier Afferm.]
1. tr. To confirm, ratify.1531 Edinb. B. Rec. 52 (certane statutis to be affirmyt be ws).1534 Bamff Chart. 66 (ratifeit and affirmit).
b. To ‘fence’ (a court). 1456 Peebles B. Rec. iii.
The suttis callit, the curt effirmyt, ilk absent in amerssiment 1531 Reg. Privy S. II. 123/1.
With power to him … chalmerlane courtis … to set, begin, affirme, hald and continew 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 366.
The court beand lauchfully affirmit 1629 Misc. Spald. C. V. 219.
The suittis callit, … and the court lawfullie fencit and affirmit 1686 Ib. V. 234.
2. To assert, maintain (that, etc.).c1420 Wynt. v. 2865 (he affirmyt that … ). c1460 Wisdom of Solomon 423 (that I affirmyt to be … ). 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 51/8.
Lactantius … scornis the mathematiciens that effirmis antipodos1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 118 (heretikis affirmand thare heresyis). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 296/4 (I sweir and als affirmes surelie that … ). 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 68 (affirmand her to be oppressed be him).
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"Affirm v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/affirme>
