confirmed, ppl. a.
(kənˈfɜːmd)
[f. confirm.]
1. Made firm, strengthened, settled, firmly established, etc.: see the verb.
| 1594 Kyd Cornelia v. in Hazl. Dodsley V. 238 Is this th' undaunted heart That is required in extremities? Be more confirmed. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 394. 1607 Dekker Wh. Babylon Wks. 1873 II. 258 Who buildes on heartes confirmd, buildes on a rocke. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. 1842 I. 65 In a confirmed state of health and vigour. 1871 Blackie Four Phases i. 116 The State where the habit of obedience is most confirmed. |
b. spec. Of a disease: Firmly established in the system; inveterate, chronic.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. lxiv. (1495) 281 How soo euer Lepra is gendred vnneth it is curable yf it be confermyd. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. (MS. A) 100 Þis crampe may be heeled or þat he be confermed, & aftir þat he is confermed seelden or nevere. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 41 A confirmed Cancer. |
2. Of persons: Firmly established in the habit, condition, or practice expressed by the appellative. See confirm v. 3.
| 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey vii. v, I am a confirmed wanderer. 1860 Mrs. H. Wood Danesbury Ho. xviii, The boys have become confirmed drunkards. Mod. A confirmed invalid. |
3. That has received the rite of confirmation
4. (See confirm v. 2 c.)
| 1787 Nelson 26 July in Nicolas Disp. (1845) I. 249, I..recommend him..as worthy of having a confirmed Warrant. |
Hence conˈfirmedly adv., conˈfirmedness (-ɪd-).
| 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. xvii. 249 More sureli and confermedli. 1889 Pall Mall G. 13 Sept. 7/1 Every person..who has become confirmedly unfit for work. 1667 Decay Chr. Piety v. §29. 244 If the difficulty arise..from the confirm'dness of the habit. |