I. əˈthentik, ȯˈ-, -tēk adjective
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Greek authentikos ) of earlier autentyke, from Middle English autentik, from Middle French autentique, from Late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos, from authentēs murderer, master, doer (from aut- + -hentēs one that accomplishes) + -ikos -ic; akin to Greek anyein, anein to accomplish, entea (plural) armor, Sanskrit sanoti he gains
1. obsolete : possessing authority that is not usually open to challenge : authoritative
2. : worthy of acceptance or belief by reason of conformity to fact and reality : not contradicted by evidence : trustworthy , credible , convincing
an authentic book on medieval customs
an authentic portrayal
3.
a. : vested with due formalities and legally attested : legally valid
an authentic act
b. obsolete : properly qualified : authorized
4.
a. : not imaginary or specious : real , genuine
authentic joy over her return
b. : not copied : original
an authentic manuscript
an authentic Chippendale chair
5. of a church mode : ranging upwards from the keynote — distinguished from plagal
6. : of an origin that cannot be questioned : indisputably proceeding from a given source that is avowed or implied : not spurious
an authentic historical reference
7.
a. : marked by conformity to widespread or long-continued tradition
an authentic English custom
b. : marked by close conformity to an original : accurately and satisfyingly reproducing essential features
an authentic portrait
8. biology : valid
Synonyms:
genuine , veritable , bona fide : authentic stresses fidelity to actuality and fact, compatibility with a certain source or origin, accordance with usage or tradition, or complete sincerity without feigning or hypocrisy
he told his grandfather that he had been in combat with a giant, and frightened his poor mother … with long, and by no means authentic, accounts of the battle — W.M.Thackeray
an esoteric jargon which does not even have the authentic ring of American slang — Stanley Walker
only the authentic Christian tradition has the answer to our present problems — Times Literary Supplement
an authentic passion for concrete detail, in the mind of the author himself — C.E.Montague
genuine may stress definite origin from a certain source
whose letter — genuine or counterfeited — had been so instrumental in hastening this outbreak — J.L.Motley
genuine chiefly emphasizes a real actual character as contrasted with a fraudulent, deceptive appearance
whether it is a genuine insight into the workings of his own mind or only a false explanation of them — C.D.Lewis
sham motor bus companies which if genuine would have been very sensible and publicly useful investments — G.B.Shaw
palming off paper imitations of all kinds of valuables on the simple-minded ghosts and gods, who take them in all good faith for the genuine articles — J.G.Frazer
genuine may also describe emotions or mental states really experienced and not feigned
that was no conventional expected shock that she had received. It was genuine unforeseen shock — Arnold Bennett
In “a genuine authentic Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington”, genuine emphasizes certainty of ascription to Stuart and authentic emphasizes the close similarity between portrait and subject. veritable indicates a true existence or actual identity
the ruffians were so utterly appalled, not only by the false powers of magic, but by veritable powers of majesty and eloquence — Charles Kingsley
It may indicate a very close similarity and stress the suitability of a metaphor
an old gray-haired lady, a veritable saint who had not been soured by her many deeds of charity — P.E.More
bona fide , often commercial or legal in suggestion, stresses good faith and lack of intent to deceive or the avoidance of equivocal casuistry
bona fide residents who … maintained homes in no other places — Harper's
II. adjective
: true to one's own personality, spirit, or character
an authentic and unselfconscious middle-class primitive — Philip Roth