a. | 1. | Confirmative; ratifying; |
2. | That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what exists; answering "yes" to a question; - opposed to | |
3. | Positive; dogmatic. | |
4. | (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition. | |
5. | (Alg.) Positive; - a term applied to quantities which are to be added, and opposed to | |
n. | 1. | That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the proposition stated; - opposed to |
2. | A word or phrase expressing affirmation or assent; |
Noun | 1. | affirmative - a reply of affirmation; "he answered in the affirmative" Antonyms: negative - a reply of denial; "he answered in the negative" |
Adj. | 1. | affirmative - affirming or giving assent; "an affirmative decision"; "affirmative votes"; "an affirmative nod"; "an affirmatory gesture" Synonyms: affirmatory Antonyms: negative - expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial |
2. | affirmative - expecting the best; "an affirmative outlook" Synonyms: optimistic | |
3. | affirmative - supporting a policy or attitude etc; "an affirmative argument" Synonyms: favoring |
AFFIRMATIVE. Averring a fact to be true; that which is opposed to negative.
(q.v.)
2. It is a general rule of evidence that the affirmative of the issue
must be proved. Bull. N. P. 298 ; Peake, Ev. 2.
3. But when the law requires a person to do an act, and the neglect of
it, will render him guilty and punishable, the negative must be proved,
because every man is presumed to do his duty and in that case they who
affirm he did not, must prove it. B. N. P. 298; 1 Roll. R. 83; Comb. 57; 3
B.& P. 307; 1 Mass. R. 56.