Etymology : Middle English, from Old French confirmer, from Latin confirmare, from com- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm
Pronunciation : k&n-f&rm
Function : transitive verb
Date : 13th century
1. approve; verify, show to be true; strengthen. 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.].
2. to make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as, health is confirmed by exercise. confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. and confirmed the same unto jacob for a law. cv.
3. 2. to strengthen in judgment or purpose. confirmed, then, i resolve adam shall share with me in bliss or woe.
4. to give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor. your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale. these likelihoods confirm her flight.
5. 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. that treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confimed.
6. (eccl.) to administer the rite of confirmation to. see:
confirmation,.
7. those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament.
8. To make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as, health is confirmed by exercise.
9. To strengthen in judgment or purpose.
10. To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor.
11. 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.
12. To administer the rite of confirmation to.
13. See Confirmation, 3. make more firm; "Confirm thy soul in self-control!" establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the defendant" strengthen or make more firm; "The witnesses confirmed the victim's account" administer the rite of confirmation to; "the children were confirmed in their mother's faith" as of a person to a position; "The Senate confirmed the President's candidate for Secretary of Defense".
14. 1. If something confirms what you believe, suspect, or fear, it shows that it is definitely true. X-rays have confirmed that he has not broken any bones These new statistics confirm our worst fears about the depth of the recession + confirmation con·fir·ma·tion They took her resignation from Bendix as confirmation of their suspicions.
15. If you confirm something that has been stated or suggested, you say that it is true because you know about it. The spokesman confirmed that the area was now in rebel hands He confirmed what had long been feared + confirmation con·fir·ma·tion She glanced over at James for confirmation.
16. If you confirm an arrangement or appointment, you say that it is definite, usually in a letter or on the telephone. You make the reservation, and I'll confirm it in writing. + confirmation con·fir·ma·tion Travel arrangements are subject to confirmation by State Tourist Organisations.
17. If someone is confirmed, they are formally accepted as a member of a Christian church during a ceremony in which they say they believe what the church teaches. He was confirmed as a member of the Church of England. + confirmation confirmations con·fir·ma·tion when I was being prepared for Confirmation Flu prevented her from attending her daughter's confirmation.
18. If something confirms you in your decision, belief, or opinion, it makes you think that you are definitely right. It has confirmed me in my decision not to become a nun.
19. If someone confirms their position, role, or power, they do something to make their power, position, or role stronger or more definite. Williams has confirmed his position as the world's number one snooker player.
20. If something confirms you as something, it shows that you definitely deserve a name, role, or position. His new role could confirm him as one of our leading actors.