Obs. Forms: 4 afye, (afyghe), 4–6 affye, 4–7 affie, 4–8 affy. [a. OFr. afie-r, afye-r:—late L. affīdā-re, f. ad to + fīdāre to trust, f. fīdus trusty, faithful, f. fides faith. Refash. in later Fr. as affier, whence Eng. affy.]
1. trans. To trust, confide (a thing to a person); but from the beginning refl. To confide oneself, trust to, on, or in.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 4753. Joliflich he may hym in her afyghe.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 331. Þose vnwyse ledes Þat affyen hymn in vanyté.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 756. My godes þat y me affied on.
a. 1400. St. Alexius, 178. To god he gan hym al Affye.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxvi. 61. In him gan sche hire affye Aboven alle other.
1575. Turbervile, Bk. Venerie, 112. Let them never affie themselves in yong houndes.
1578. Fenton, Hist. Guicciardin (1618), 232. Somewhat affying themselues in the great promises he made.
1613. York Registry MS. Slenningford. I much affie myself in Mr. Heughe Best’ just & freindlie dealing.
2. intr. (by omission of refl. pron.) To confide, trust, rely, put trust. Const. in, rarely on.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 10241. Þo þat þou saghe lyke maumetrye On worldly þyng þey most affye. Ibid. (1330), Chron., 78. On þis Gospatrick William gan affie.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 271. Tharfor in hym affyit he.
a. 1470. Tiptoft, Cæsar’s Comm. (1530), ii. 2. In whose great wysedome … Cæsar much affyed.
1559. Myrroure for Mag., Gloucester, vi. Most faulte of fayth where I most affyed.
1587. Turbervile, Trag. T. (1837), 228. In whom he did affye To shew the case.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., I. i. 47. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affie In thy vprightnesse and integrity.
1622. Fotherby, Atheom., 5. Affying only upon his own wit and understanding.
1642. Jer. Taylor, God’s Judgem., I. I. xxvii. 114. Antiochus for the small trust he affied in him … would not commit any charge … into his hand.
3. trans. To confide in, trust, give faith to.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 155. To schewe counseil & skille, þat not is to affie.
1587. Turbervile, Epit. & Sonnets (1837), 326. So greatly she affied him, Whilest she did beare the sway.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Pet. ii. 5 (1865), 329/2. Who would not rather affy God’s word with one singular Noah, than be incredulous with the whole world?
4. To assure, affirm on one’s faith (a thing or fact to a person); to make affidavit.
c. 1500. Partenay, 2308. Fair nece … here I you affy That your fadir Deth auenged is well.
1530. Palsgr., 418/2. I affye, Y assure or make one certayne of a thynge by my promesse. It is nat for your honour thus by your othe to affye this thyng, and nowe to go from it.
1617. Minsheu, Ductor, 166. To Affie, Assure, Affirme on his word or credite: vide to Assure.
5. To secure or make fast by solemn promise; to betroth or espouse (sc. to oneself, or as proxy for another); to take in marriage.
c. 1500. Partenay, 6052. Neuer … wold he noght mary … No woman wold betrouth neither affy.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 832/2. The said duke affied the lady Marie in the name of his maister king Lewes.
1603. Drayton, Barons Warres, III. lxxxiv. The Prince affyes faire Philip [= Philippa] at the last. Ibid. (1627), Agincourt, etc., 68. Comming to Towers, there sumptuously affide: This one, whose like no age had seene before.
6. To betroth (any one) in marriage to (another); to affiance.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 322. The wise Duke … for more safetie, affied him to his daughter, to be taken in marriage.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. i. 80. Daring to affye a mighty Lord Vnto the daughter of a worthlesse King.
1603. Drayton, Barons Warres, I. xiv. To whom thy only Daughter was affy’d.
1642. Bird, Mag. Hon., 34. He was affied to Alice the daughter of the Earl of Moreton.
1655. Digges, Compl. Ambass., 13. He was suddenly accepted by that Q. to be affied in contract of Marriage with her.
1705. Rowe, Biter, III. Wks. 1792, I. 262. I would not affy my daughter to you. [Meant to be formal and old-fashioned.]
7. fig. To engage or bind in faith (a thing to a person or vice versâ).
1566. Drant, Medic. Mor., A. That none contente abyde In trayned trade, that whylome choyse or chaunce to them affyed.
1625. Bp. Mountagu, App. Cæsar., 69 (T.). Personal respects rather seem to affie me unto that Synod.
