Definition of verify

The word "verify" originated from the Latin root "verus," meaning true or faithful. The Latin verb "verificare" was formed from this root, and it literally translated to "make true" or "establish the truth." The Latin suffix "-ficare" adds the idea of action or making something happen. In medieval Latin, "verificare" was used for establishing the authenticity of a document or the truthfulness of a witness's testimony in legal proceedings. This sense of the word gradually evolved to include the process of confirming the accuracy or validity of something through inspection or evidence. The French word "vérifier" initially adopted this meaning in the High Middle Ages with the meaning "to examine again," and the French word influenced the English adoption of "verify" in this distinctive sense in the 14th century. In modern English, "verify" primarily refers to confirming the correctness, accuracy, or truthfulness of something.