affirm
What an appeals court does if it agrees with and confirms a lower court's decision.

affirmative action
The process of a business or governmental agency in which it gives special rights of hiring or advancement to ethnic minorities to make up for past discrimination against that minority.

affirmative defense
Part of an answer to a charge or complaint in which a defendant takes the offense and responds to the allegations with his/her own charges, which are called "affirmative defenses."

affix
To attach something to real estate in a permanent way, including planting trees and shrubs, constructing a building, or adding to existing improvements. The key is that affixed items are permanent and cannot be picked up and moved away like a washing ...

after-acquired property
Personal or real property acquired by a debtor after he/she has agreed that all his/her property secures a debt. Thus, the new property also becomes security for the debt.

after-acquired title
Title to property acquired after the owner attempts to sell or transfer the title to another person before he/she actually got legal title.

after-discovered evidence
Evidence found by a losing party after a trial has been completed and judgment (or criminal conviction) given, also called newly-discovered evidence.