confirm
VerbWordNet 3.0
Verb (5)
- establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts“his story confirmed my doubts”“The evidence supports the defendant”Synonyms: corroboratesustainsubstantiatesupportaffirm
- strengthen or make more firm“The witnesses confirmed the victim's account”Synonyms: reassert
- make more firm“Confirm thy soul in self-control!”
- support a person for a position“The Senate confirmed the President's candidate for Secretary of Defense”
- administer the rite of confirmation to“the children were confirmed in their mother's faith”
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Confirm \Con*firm"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confrmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Confirming.] [OE. confermen, confirmen, OF. confermer, F. confirmer, fr. L. confirmare; con- + firmare to make firm, fr. firmus firm. See Firm.]
1.To make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as, health is confirmed by exercise. [1913 Webster]
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law.— Ps. cv. 10.[1913 Webster]
2.To strengthen in judgment or purpose. [1913 Webster]
Confirmed, then, I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
3.To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor. [1913 Webster]
Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
These likelihoods confirm her flight.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
4.To render valid by formal assent; to complete by a necessary sanction; to ratify; as, to confirm the appoinment of an official; the Senate confirms a treaty. [1913 Webster]
That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confimed.— Swift.[1913 Webster]
5.(Eccl.) To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation, 3. [1913 Webster]
Those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament.— Hammond.
Syn: To strengthen; corroborate; substantiate; establish; fix; ratify; settle; verify; assure. [1913 Webster]