v.
Pronunciation: k ə n- ' f ə rm
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French cunfermer, from Latin confirmare, from com- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm
Date: 13th century
1 : to give approval to : RATIFY < confirm a treaty>
2 : to make firm or firmer : STRENGTHEN < confirm one's resolve>
3 : to administer the rite of confirmation to
4 : to give new assurance of the validity of : remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact < confirm a rumor> < confirm an order>
– con · firm · abil · i · ty \ - ˌ f ə r-m ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– con · firm · able \ - ' f ə r-m ə -b ə l \ adjective
synonyms CONFIRM , CORROBORATE , SUBSTANTIATE , VERIFY , AUTHENTICATE , VALIDATE mean to attest to the truth or validity of something. CONFIRM implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact < confirmed the reports>. CORROBORATE suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established <witnesses corroborated his story>. SUBSTANTIATE implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention <the claims have yet to be substantiated >. VERIFY implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at <all statements of fact in the article have been verified >. AUTHENTICATE implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion <handwriting experts authenticated the diaries>. VALIDATE implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof < validated the hypothesis by experiments>.