WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Con*firm"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [OE. confermen, confirmen, OF. confermer, F. confirmer, fr. L. confirmare; con- + firmare to make firm, fr. firmus firm. See Firm.]
Definition : 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. Shak. Annd 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. Shak.

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.)

Defn: To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation, 3. 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.

t. [imp. & p.p. Confrmed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confirming.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913