Reaffirming

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To restate a previously held belief or idea with renewed emphasis or conviction while confirming its truth or validity in a stronger manner
2. Expressing a previously made statement once more to reinforce its importance or truth
3. Repeating an assertion to confirm its accuracy and underline commitment

Etymology: "Reaffirming" is the present participle of "reaffirm", which is "re-" plus "affirm". "Affirm" comes from Old French "affermer", meaning to make firm or strengthen, which traces back to Latin "affirmare", from "ad-" ("to") and "firmare" ("to make firm"), from "firmus" ("firm, stable"). The root idea is physical steadiness: to fix something in place, then to make a statement fixed and unshakeable. The "re-" prefix, from Latin "re-" meaning "again" or "back", turns that into the sense of firming something up once more. So to reaffirm a promise is to make it steady a second time, restating it so that it stands firm after doubt or challenge.

Synonyms: confirming, reasserting, reestablishing, endorsing, supporting

Antonyms: denying, rejecting, disavowing, contradicting, disconfirming