[f. med.L. validāt-, ppl. stem of validāre (1394 in Du Cange), or after F. valider (1586 in Godef. Compl.; = Sp. and Pg. validar, It. validare): see VALID a. and -ATE3. Cf. INVALIDATE v.]
1. trans. To render or declare legally valid; to confirm the validity of (an act, contract, deed, etc.); to legalize.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 209. Henry consented, that … the marriage betwixt Francis and Leonora … should be validated and confirmed.
1659. in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 435. You only establish quantum in vobis est, without either validating or invalidating the Acts and Ordinances for the Excise.
1706. J. Sergeant, Acc. Chapter Bp. Chalcedon (1853), 121. The long prescription it has enjoyed, which alone is able to validate and confirm it.
1750. Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 859. Pope Julius II … granted a dispensation for the marriage of Henry and Catherine, and for validating the contract, if it had been already made.
1801. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), III. 477. It is true the treaty was not ratified; but when ratified it is validated retrospectively.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, I. v. § 49. 607. The question of the royal sanction being required to validate the acts of the legislature.
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, II. § 220. The legacy will be invalid by the civil law; but it will be validated by the Senatus-consult.
b. spec. [Now after F. valider.] To declare (an election) valid; to declare (a person) duly and properly elected. Hence Validated ppl. a.
1658–9. in Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 75. Have an account brought in to validate the members for Scotland and Ireland.
1883. Daily News, 25 June, 5/3. The Chamber has validated the election for Passy of M. Cailla.
1893. Westm. Gaz., 5 Dec., 7/1. Nearly all the validated deputies … voted.
2. To make valid or of good authority; to confirm or corroborate; to substantiate or support.
1775. C. Johnston, Pilgrim, 250. The lawyer found convenient witnesses to prove a marriage,… and every circumstance necessary to validate his scheme.
1775. S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., xlviii. (1783), II. 14. I intend my memoirs shall serve as the counterpart of his; and both will indisputedly prove and validate the peculiar truth of these singular sentiments.
1803. Miss Porter, Thaddeus (1826), III. xvi. 341. Come, Lord Berrington, you must validate my report, for I learnt it of you.
1872. Contemp. Rev., XX. 395. The eschatological idea shared the fortunes of the theological, was with it materialized, spiritualized, impersonalized, validated, or dissolved.
Hence Validating vbl. sb.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 409. An act also … was now confirmed and the Oath prescribed, for the more Validating whereof also, it was declared [etc.].
