English
ratify
Ratify comes from Medieval Latin ratifico ‘to ratify, approve, validate’, from Latin ratus ‘reckoned’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂reh₁- ‘to think, reason’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂reh₁-‘to think, reason’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rēōr‘to reckon, calculate’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreor‘to reckon, calculate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEratus‘reckoned’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500ratifico‘to ratify, approve, validate’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400ratifier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ratifien
- Englishearliest quotation 1912ratify
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂reh₁-‘to think, reason’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rēōr‘to reckon, calculate’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreor‘to reckon, calculate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEratus‘reckoned’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500ratifico‘to ratify, approve, validate’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400ratifier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ratifien
- Englishearliest quotation 1912ratify
Earliest quotation: 1912, Noah Ablett: “Thus the workmen decide the principle, the Executive carry…”
Linked words
through Latin reor ‘to reckon, calculate’
through Latin ratus ‘reckoned’
Today it means
verb To give formal consent to; make officially valid, to sign off on.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂reh₁- / ratify