verify

Where does the word "verify" come from? It comes from Latin verus, passing through Medieval Latin and Old French before entering English (1400s).

Verify’s story begins in Latin: verus meant “true.” True, combined with facere (to make). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as verificare. The root of 'very', 'verdict' and 'veracity'. From there it passed into Old French as verifier by medieval. Carried into French for confirming the truth of something. It reached English by 1400s as verify. Settled as the English word for confirming that something is true or accurate. Today, verify means to confirm that something is true, accurate, or valid.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient verus "true", true, combined with facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval verificare "to make true, to confirm", the root of 'very', 'verdict' and 'veracity'.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval verifier "to confirm the truth of something", carried into French for confirming the truth of something.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s verify "to confirm that something is true or accurate", settled as the English word for confirming that something is true or accurate.