adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.]
† 1. With authority, authoritatively; with legal validity, in proper legal form. Obs.
1577. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (1884), 56. A former Composition solemely and autentically agreid uppon.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., VI. viii. (1821), 262. To declare his mind authentically to them, and dictate what his truth was.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. X. 286. Now for the first time authentically known by the name of England.
1798. W. Taylor, in Month. Rev., XXVII. 501. Its promises are more authentically proclaimed.
2. With evidence of truth or certainty, so as to be accepted or relied upon; credibly.
1590. C. S., Right Relig., 26. How can they proue those counsels to be autentically true?
1681. in Somers’ Tracts, II. 125. When our Grievances shall be authentically proved.
1767. Barrington, in Phil. Trans., LVII. 212. I was most authentically informed … that several of them were caught.
1883. Froude, in Contemp. Rev., XLIV. 1. A few pages will contain all that can be authentically learnt of … Shakspeare.
3. Actually, genuinely, really.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Gard. Cyrus, Wks. II. 524. Authentically differenced.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 252. All old Poems, Homer’s and the rest, are authentically Songs. Ibid. (1858), Fredk. Gt., I. II. i. 49. An authentically noble human figure.
a. 1850. Rossetti, Dante & Circle, I. 247. The possibility … of these sonnets being authentically by Dante and Forese.
