[f. L. corrōborāt- ppl. stem of corrōborāre to strengthen, invigorate, f. cor- together, intensive + rōborāre to make strong: see -ATE3.] To strengthen, make strong.
† 1. trans. To strengthen materially. Obs.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 46. I will corroborate my Crosse Giant-like, to vnder-beare the Atlas burthen of her insolences.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 336. Every part is … corroborated by Membranes.
a. 1762. McEwen, Grace & Truth, III. ii. These boards were corroborated with bars of the same wood.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xx. (1819), 321. These joints [in grasses and canes] … corroborate the stem.
† 2. To strengthen constitutionally or organically; to invigorate, refresh. Obs.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 50 b. Rydynge moderately … doth corroborate the spirite and body above other exercises.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus. (1877), 107. Meats (moderatly taken) corroborate the body, refresh the arteries, and reuiue the spirits.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 210. The outward man is also corroborated by the inward peace of the mind.
1720. W. Gibson, Diet Horses, xi. (1731), 178. Nothing so much strengthens and corroborates the whole Body [as the morning air].
1822. T. Taylor, Apuleius, V. xxii. 112. Psyche, who was otherwise of an imbecile body and mind … is now corroborated.
† b. esp. of medicinal agents or applications; also of the physician. Obs.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe, II. vii. Olyves condite in salte lykoure … doth corroborate the stomacke.
1604. Bacon, Apol., 56. They … shold … intend to cure and corroborate the part.
1611. Cotgr., Comforter vne playe, to corroborate a wound by fomentations, or other (externall) applications.
1658. A. Fox, trans. Würtz’ Surg., II. iii. 53. Give him some Cordials to corroborate his stomack.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 80. Nothing that I know corroborates the stomach so much as tar-water.
1797. J. Downing, Dis. Horned Cattle, 17. This medicine … corroborates the parts that are hurt.
3. With non-material object: To strengthen (a quality, faculty, power, etc.); to confirm (a person) in a quality or attribute. arch.
1543. Necess. Doctr., O ij. Wherby they shulde be so corroborated … in the gyftes … before receiued in baptisme.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. ii. § 39. Paulinus … daily plyed the Word and Sacraments, thereby to corroborate his owne People in Piety.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 119. To corroborate their Faith.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Hist., I. ii. § 1. Jonathan … corroborated his authority by … friendship with the Romans.
1838. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xxx. (1866), II. 119. The inferior faculty … so far from nourishing and corroborating the superior … tends to reduce this faculty to a lower level.
4. To give legal or formal confirmation to; to confirm (a law, legal act, etc.).
1530. [see CORROBORATING vbl. sb.].
1548. Hall, Chron., 225 b. His high Courte of Parliament … in the whiche, all lawes and ordinaunces, made by him before that daie were corroberated and confirmed.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, III. xi. (1840), 133. To corroborate his election. Ibid. (1655), Ch. Hist. II. iv. § 14. This law … corroborated by eight hundred yeares Prescription and many Confirmations.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. xxxvi. 275. If the yielding up that estate will do, resign it—and be mine—and I will corroborate, with all my soul, your resignation.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 218. If the fine had been levied for the purpose of corroborating the conveyance.
5. To strengthen (an opinion, statement, argument, etc.) by concurrent or agreeing statements or evidence; to make more sure or certain; to support, confirm: said a. of a person; b. of the confirming statement.
1706. Pope, Lett. to Walsh, 22 Oct. I am glad to corroborate [these observations] by some great authorities.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 153, ¶ 2. My narrative has no other tendency than to illustrate and corroborate your own observations.
1791. Gentl. Mag., 32/1. He appears to have taken uncommon pains to corroborate all his assertions by an appeal to original authorities.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 88. He recollected Rip at once, and corroborated his story in the most satisfactory manner.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 7. 54. This observation corroborates those of Professor Forbes with regard to the position of the veins.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 54. The simple explanation … has been corroborated by subsequent investigators.
† 6. intr. To concur in testimony. Obs. rare.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 23. These … nearly coroborate with the Soundings at R.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), V. 1776. Many circumstances corroborate to prove this beyond doubt.
Hence Corroborated ppl. a., Corroborating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1530. Palsgr., Ep. to King, 8. For the auctorysyng and corroboratyng of my said thyrde boke.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. x. (1660), 148. These [Herbs] … serve to the corroborating and comforting of the inward parts of mans body.
1684. Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), II. 424. A Chirurgeon that applies corroborating plasters to a broken limb.
1713. Slare, in Phil. Trans., XXVIII. 251. To have lost their Cordial or corroborating Faculty.
1822. T. Taylor, Apuleius, V. ix. 104. Through long continued association, and corroborated affection.
