ratify, v.
(ˈrætɪfaɪ)
Forms: 4–6 ratefie, (6 -fye); 5–6 ratyfye, (7 -fie); 4–7 ratifie, (5 Sc. -fii, 6 Sc. -fe; also 5 radifie, ratiffye, 6 -ffie), 5–6 ratifye, 6– ratify.
[a. F. ratifier (1294 in Godef. Compl.), ad. med.L. ratificāre (1228 in Du Cange): see rate n.1 and a., and -fy.]
1. trans. To confirm or make valid (an act, compact, promise, etc.) by giving consent, approval, or formal sanction (esp. to what has been done or arranged for by another).
| c 1357 Lay Folks Catech. 569 (T.) Our fadir the ercebisshop..ratifies als-so that othir men gifes. 1439 Rolls of Parlt. V. 10/2 The whiche your seid Giftes and Grauntes, it hath liked you..to ratifie, conferme and appreve. 1469 in Exch. Rolls Scotl. VII. 618 We ratifii and approvis this charter in all poyntis. 1549 Duke of Somerset in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 174 Their agreament and conclusion to be established and ratified by Parlyament. 1579 Fenton Guicciard. iii. (1599) 107 To ratifie..the auncient friendship with a new peace. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. i. iv, When the shepherd-lads with common voice Their first consent had firmly ratifi'd. 1667 Pepys Diary 9 Aug., He tells me..it is supposed the peace is ratified at Bredah. 1774 Pennant Tour Scotl. in 1772, 122 The endowment was ratified by the Pope's bull. 1840 Thirlwall Greece lvi. VII. 125 The compact was ratified by a solemn reconciliation between the contending parties. 1879 Green Read. Eng. Hist. xviii. 90 The terms which he had come to ratify had been settled beforehand. |
| absol. 1838 Thirlwall Greece xxxviii. V. 69 Asking whether the Thebans would permit the Bœotian towns to ratify for themselves. |
† b. To confirm, to guarantee or ensure the fulfilment of (a purpose, hope, etc.).
Obs.| 1596 Drayton Legends iii. 551 The King suspending, should He not consent, To ratifie the Baronies intent. c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiv. 270 Pray..that he will deine to vse His most lou'd bird, to ratifie thy hopes. 1649 Bp. Reynolds Hosea vi. 91 God..onely can ratifie all our pious resolutions. |
† c. To confirm the possession of.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1611 Bible 1 Macc. xi. 34 We haue ratified vnto them the borders of Iudea. |
2. To declare or confirm the truth or correctness of (a statement, etc.). Now
rare or
Obs.| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxiv. 156 Þe Pape hase ratified and confermed my buke in all poyntes. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer Offices 9 They may then..with their owne mouth..ratifie and confesse the same. 1558 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. iii. 139 The names..werre here red, ratefyed and allowyd. 1631 Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 357 The prophesie..thus ratified by the euent. 1671 J. Webster Metallogr. iii. 50 To ratifie this,..I shall relate what I my self have found. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. i. 30 This Revelation..has been ratified by the blood of Christ and His Apostles. 1826 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Sanity True Genius, The transitions in this episode are..as violent as in the most extravagant dream, and yet the waking judgement ratifies them. |
† 3. To consummate, carry out, bring to fulfilment or completion.
Obs. rare.
| 1561 in Child-Marriages (1896) 3 This deponent verilie belevis that the said matrimonie was neuer ratefied. 1562 Ibid. 76 The said Henrie Price did not ratifie the said matrymonie bie carnall copulacion. c 1720 Ship in a Storm vii, Too soon the rolling Ruin came And ratify'd the Wreck. |
† 4. To confirm in faith or courage.
Obs. rare.
| 1559 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) I. ii. App. vi. 406 One chief pointe of spiritual government is to confirme his brethren, and ratifie them..by holsome doctryne. 1598–9 E. Forde Parismus ii. (1661) 227 Those that were also maimed and wounded..were..every one kindly ratified by Marcellus. |
† 5. To fix the rate or price of.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1511 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 394 Corne or grayne that comith..to be sold in the market place shall be sold and ratiffied acording the plentines of the yere. |
Hence
ˈratifying vbl. n. and ppl. a.| 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. xii. 278 A confirming, a ratifieng,..of that went before. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vi. xxxix. §4. 142 Vpon the ratifyings of his election by the Senate at Rome, hee hasted not thither. 1714 J. Wyeth Suppl. T. Ellwood's Life (1765) 411 That which was the most ratifying of all His bodily Sufferings. 1829 Southey All for Love ix. xlii, Ye shall now in thunder hear Heaven's ratifying voice! |