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confirmatio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word confirmatio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (firmus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõː.fɪrˈmaː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɱ.firˈmat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

cōnfirmātiō f (genitive cōnfirmātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from cōnfirmō “to strengthen, confirm” with the suffix -tiō, from firmus “firm”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the action of making firm, as of teeth in a medical writer, and in Cicero encouragement, corroboration of an opinion, and in rhetoric the proof, the part of a speech containing it.[2] Cicero has ad cōnfirmātiōnem perpetuae lībertātis “to secure lasting liberty”.[5] Lewis & Short note it is used in good prose only figuratively.[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant a confirmatory charter.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for fastening, the establishment of a disease, and in rhetoric.[8] Through Old French confirmacion it gave English confirmation about 1300, first the rite admitting the baptized to full communion.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[4][2]
  • c. 1300 – English confirmation is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A strengthening, making firm.[2]
  2. Encouragement.[2]
  3. Corroboration, confirmation.[2]
  4. (rhetoric) The proof.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A confirmatory charter.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Confirmatio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/confirmatio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·