Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 VERB If an event affirms something, it shows that it is true or exists. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Everything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion. ●  af|fir|ma|tion N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] □ [+ of ] The high turnout was an affirmation of the importance that the voters attached to the election.

af|firma|tive /əfɜː ^r mət I v/

1 ADJ An affirmative word or gesture indicates that you agree with what someone has said or that the answer to a question is 'yes'. [FORMAL ] □  Haig was desperately eager for an affirmative answer. ●  af|firma|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  'Is that clear?' Bob nodded his head affirmatively.

2 PHRASE If you reply to a question in the affirmative , you say 'yes' or make a gesture that means 'yes'. [FORMAL ] □  He asked me if I was ready. I answered in the affirmative.

3 ADJ In grammar, an affirmative clause is positive and does not contain a negative word.

af|fi rma|tive a c|tion N‑UNCOUNT Affirmative action is the policy of giving jobs and other opportunities to members of groups such as racial minorities or women who might not otherwise have them. [AM ] in BRIT, use positive discrimination

af|fix (affixes , affixing , affixed ) The verb is pronounced /əf I ks/. The noun is pronounced /æ f I ks/. 1 VERB If you affix one thing to another, you stick it or attach it to the other thing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] Complete the form and affix four tokens to its back. □ [V n] I covered the scroll in sealing wax, and affixed a red ribbon. □ [V -ed] …special storage racks affixed to the sides of buses. [Also V n prep/adv]

2 N‑COUNT An affix is a letter or group of letters, for example 'un-' or '-y', which is added to either the beginning or the end of a word to form a different word with a different meaning. For example, 'un-' is added to 'kind' to form 'unkind'. Compare prefix and suffix .

af|flict /əfl I kt/ (afflicts , afflicting , afflicted ) VERB If you are afflicted by pain, illness, or disaster, it affects you badly and makes you suffer. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + by/with ] Italy has been afflicted by political corruption for decades. □ [V n] There are two main problems which afflict people with hearing impairments.

af|flic|tion /əfl I kʃ ^ə n/ (afflictions ) N‑VAR An affliction is something which causes physical or mental suffering. [FORMAL ] □  Hay fever is an affliction which arrives at an early age.

af|flu|ence /æ fluəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Affluence is the state of having a lot of money or a high standard of living. [FORMAL ] □  The postwar era was one of new affluence for the working class.

af|flu|ent /æ fluənt/ ADJ If you are affluent , you have a lot of money. □  Today's affluent Indian tourists are also big spenders. ● N‑PLURAL The affluent are people who are affluent. □  The diet of the affluent has not changed much over the decades.

af|ford ◆◇◇ /əfɔː ^r d/ (affords , affording , afforded )

1 VERB If you cannot afford something, you do not have enough money to pay for it. □ [V n] My parents can't even afford a new refrigerator. □ [V to-inf] We couldn't afford to buy a new rug.

2 VERB If you say that you cannot afford to do something or allow it to happen, you mean that you must not do it or must prevent it from happening because it would be harmful or embarrassing to you. □ [V to-inf] We can't afford to wait. □ [V n] The country could not afford the luxury of an election.