Con-firm', v. t.

(18), v. t. [imp. & p. p. CONFIRMED; p. pr. & vb. n. CONFIRMING.] [Lat. confirmare, from con and firmare, to make firm, from firmus, firm; Fr. confirmer, O. Fr. confermer, Pr. confirmar, confermar, Sp. & Pg. confirmar, It. confermare. See FIRM.] 1. To make firm; to give strength to; to render fixed; to establish; to settle; to render certain; as, to confirm one's spirits with a banquet. Chapman. He only lived but till he was a man; The which no sooner had his powers confirmed In the unshrinking station where he fought, But like a man he died. Shak. 2. To render valid by formal assent; to ratify; as, to confirm the appointment of a public officer; the Senate confirms a treaty. That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confirmed. Swift. 3. (Eccl.) To administer the rite of confirmation to. See CONFIRMATION, 4. Those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament. Hammond. Syn.—To strengthen; corroborate; establish; fix; settle; verify; assure.