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to establish as genuine.
to establish the authorship or origin of conclusively or unquestionably, chiefly by the techniques of scholarship:
to authenticate a painting.
to make authoritative or valid.
Contemporary Examples

The government used Simmons to authenticate 11 overt acts in the racketeering indictment of Welch and his deputy.
Romney’s Shady Connections From Salt Lake Olympics Still Paying Off Wayne Barrett May 13, 2012

“Her mission was to authenticate every fact,” says Dr. Eakin, a retired math professor.
The Woman Who Saved Solomon Guy Walters October 19, 2013

To authenticate his Vanity Fair article about interrogation tactics, Hitchens agreed to be waterboarded.
Christopher Hitchens on Waterboarding, Mother Teresa, and More Controversial Moments (VIDEO) Brittany Jones-Cooper December 15, 2011

The NCC is supposed to “authenticate” the shutdown via “a series of questions.”
On the Eve of the NATO Summit, Is Phone Jamming Coming to Chicago? Tony Doukopil May 15, 2012

Historical Examples

My very passport was gone, so that I had actually nothing to authenticate my position—not even my name.
Diary And Notes Of Horace Templeton, Esq. Charles James Lever

Every king had his own seal, which was used to authenticate his public acts.
Richard I Jacob Abbott

Not even miracles can authenticate a religion which preaches monasticism and celibacy.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy Isaac Husik

I will begin with some anecdotes which I am myself able to authenticate.
Stories of Animal Sagacity W.H.G. Kingston

As few could write, most people had to authenticate a document in some other way, for instance, by making their mark.
The Common Law Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

That is all very well; but how can you authenticate your claim to the property?
The Honor of the Name Emile Gaboriau

verb (transitive)
to establish as genuine or valid
to give authority or legal validity to
v.

“verify, establish the credibility of,” 1650s, from Medieval Latin authenticatus, past participle of authenticare, from authenticus (see authentic). Related: Authenticated; authenticating.