The word "reaffirm" is spelled with two "f"s because the stress falls on the syllable "firm." In IPA phonetic transcription, this is represented as /riː.əˈfɜːrm/. The prefix "re-" means to do something again, while the root word "affirm" means to state something as true. Therefore, "reaffirm" means to state something as true once again. This word is commonly used in legal and political contexts, where individuals or groups may need to reaffirm their commitment to a particular action or belief.
The verb "reaffirm" refers to the act of asserting or confirming a belief, position, decision, or commitment that has previously been stated or made. It involves expressing or declaring one's agreement or support for something in a strong and emphatic manner on a subsequent occasion.
When individuals reaffirm something, they are essentially reiterating or reinforcing their initial stance or viewpoint, which may have been previously stated, decided, or established. This act of reaffirmation often occurs to emphasize the continued validity, importance, or correctness of the subject matter at hand, particularly in response to doubt, skepticism, or potential challenges.
Reaffirmation can take various forms, such as restating a previously made statement or declaration, confirming a previous commitment or promise, reasserting a belief or opinion, or reminding others of an existing decision or resolution. It emphasizes the notion that the person or entity has not deviated from their original conviction or intent and aims to dispel any ambiguity or misunderstanding.
Furthermore, reaffirmation often serves to reinforce the personal or collective commitment to a particular cause, principle, or value. It may also function as a means of reassuring oneself or others, as well as maintaining consistency and continuity in opinions, actions, or plans.
Overall, to reaffirm is to affirm or validate anew, providing a clear and resolute indication of continued agreement, support, or dedication to a previously expressed idea, choice, or conviction.
To affirm a second time.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "reaffirm" has roots in Latin and Middle English.
The prefix "re-" in "reaffirm" comes from the Latin prefix "re-", which means "again" or "back".
The word "affirm" comes from the Latin word "affirmare", which is a combination of the prefix "ad-" (meaning "to" or "towards") and the verb "firmare" (meaning "to make firm" or "to strengthen"). So, "affirm" originally meant "to make firm" or "to strengthen".
The word "reaffirm" combines the Latin prefix "re-" with the word "affirm", resulting in the meaning "to affirm again" or "to strengthen once more".