Main Entry: rat·i·fy
Pronunciation: 'ra-t&-"fI
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing
Etymology: Middle English ratifien, from Middle French ratifier, from Medieval Latin
ratificare, from Latin ratus determined, from past participle of reri to calculate -- more at
REASON
Date: 14th century
: to approve and sanction formally : CONFIRM <ratify a treaty>
- rat·i·fi·ca·tion /"ra-t&-f&-'kA-sh&n/ noun
- rat·i·fi·er /'ra-t&-"fI(-&)r/ noun
Main Entry: con·firm
Pronunciation: k&n-'f&rm
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French confirmer, from Latin confirmare, from com-
+ firmare to make firm, from firmus firm
Date: 13th century
1 : to give approval to : RATIFY
2 : to make firm or firmer : STRENGTHEN
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
- con·firm·abil·i·ty /-"f&r-m&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun
- con·firm·able /-'f&r-m&-b&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>.
Main Entry: cor·rob·o·rate
Pronunciation: k&-'rä-b&-"rAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -rat·ed; -rat·ing
Etymology: Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare, from com- + robor-, robur
strength
Date: 1530
: to support with evidence or authority : make more certain
synonym see CONFIRM
Main Entry: sub·stan·ti·ate
Pronunciation: s&b-'stan(t)-shE-"At
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
Date: 1657
1 : to give substance or form to : EMBODY
2 : to establish by proof or competent evidence : VERIFY <substantiate a charge>
synonym see CONFIRM
Main Entry: ver·i·fy
Pronunciation: 'ver-&-"fI
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing
Etymology: Middle English verifien, from Middle French verifier, from Medieval Latin
verificare, from Latin verus true
Date: 14th century
1 : to confirm or substantiate in law by oath
2 : to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of
synonym see CONFIRM
Pronunciation: &-'then-ti-"kAt, o-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -cat·ed; -cat·ing
Date: 1653
: to prove or serve to prove the authenticity of
synonym see CONFIRM
- au·then·ti·ca·tion /-"then-ti-'kA-sh&n/ noun