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Webster 1913 Edition

Confirm

Con-firm′

,
Verb.
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
.
Confirm
the crown to me and to mine heirs.
Shakespeare
And
confirmed
the same unto Jacob for a law.
Ps. cv. 10.
2.
To strengthen in judgment or purpose.
Confirmed
, then, I resolve
Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe.
Milton.
3.
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.
Pope.
These likelihoods
confirm
her flight.
Shakespeare
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
.
That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than
confimed
.
Swift.
5.
(Eccl.)
To administer the rite of confirmation to. See
Confirmation
, 3.
Syn. – To strengthen; corroborate; substantiate; establish; fix; ratify; settle; verify; assure.

Webster 1828 Edition

Confirm

CONFIRM

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to make firm. See Firm.]
1.
To make firm, or more firm; to add strength to; to strengthen; as, health is confirmed by exercise.
2.
To fix more firmly; to settle or establish.
Confirming the souls of the disciples. Acts 14.
I confirm thee in the priesthood. Maccabees.
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs.
3.
To make firm or certain; to give new assurance of truth or certainty; to put past doubt.
The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. 1 Corinthians 1.
4.
To fix; to radicate; as, the patient has a confirmed dropsy.
5.
To strengthen; to ratify; as, to confirm an agreement, promise, covenant or title.
6.
To make more firm; to strengthen; as, to confirm an opinion, a purpose or resolution.
7.
To admit to the full privileges of a Christian, by the imposition of hands.

Definition 2025

confirm

confirm

English

Alternative forms

Verb

confirm ‎(third-person singular simple present confirms, present participle confirming, simple past and past participle confirmed)

  1. To strengthen; to make firm or resolute.
  2. (transitive, Christianity) To administer the sacrament of confirmation on (someone).
    • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 35:
      Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII, was baptized and confirmed at the age of three days.
  3. To assure the accuracy of previous statements.

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French confermer, from Latin confirmāre ‎(“to make firm, strenghten, establish”), from com- ‎(“together”) with firmare ‎(“to make firm”), from firmus ‎(“firm”).

Pronunciation

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