verify

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈvɛɹɪfaɪ/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English verifien, borrowed from Old French verifier (“to substantiate”),^[2][3][4] from Medieval Latin vērificō (“to make true”),^[2][3] from Latin vērus (“true”) (see very) and -ficō, from faciō (“to make”).^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

To prove true, confirm, first as a legal term, to prove by evidence: before 1325 in the OED and Barnhart, the early 14th century in Etymonline.^[5][2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

To be proved true by the result, as of a prophecy, is from 1387.^[5] In general use, to affirm or confirm as true, it is from 1525,^[5] and to ascertain the correctness of something, to check, from the 16th century.^[7] Verification is from the 14th century, and verifiable from 1593.^[7][2]

Timeline

• before 1325 – to prove by evidence (law).^[5][2]
• 1387 – to be proved true by events.^[5]
• 1525 – to confirm.^[5]
• 1593 – verifiable.^[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To check or establish the truth or accuracy of something.
2. To prove to be true; to confirm or substantiate.
3. (law) To affirm formally or under oath; to add a verification to a pleading.

Word family

• verifier
• verifiability
• verifiable
• preverify
• verification
• reverify
• unverified

Related words

• verity
• very
• veritable
• verdict

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press