confirm-v; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: attest to the truth of a proposition, corroborate with evidence

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[topic] CONFIRM NP2 NP1[instrument] CONFIRM NP2

Examples:
"The evidence confirms the defendant's story."
"Similar findings have been confirmed in recent clinical experiments."
"The smoke confirmed what he had expected: there had been a party in his absence!"
"The witness confirmed the victim's account."

Mappings:
VerbNet: conjecture-29.5-2,indicate-78-1-1
FrameNet: Evidence,Statement,Verification
PropBank: confirm.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2

Sense Number 2: make a situation definite or official

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1[agent] CONFIRM NP2[state] NP1[actor] CONFIRM NP2[state] NP1[cause] CONFIRM NP2[state]

Examples:
"Working on the campaign confirmed her desire to go into politics."
"Call the travel agency to confirm your reservation."
"I have accepted the job over the phone, but I haven't confirmed it in writing."

Mappings:
VerbNet: indicate-78-1-1
FrameNet: Statement
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 3: legally approve or ratify a person for a position

Commentary:
NOTE: This is a narrow, restricted sense from sense 2, relating to political ratification.

Examples:
"The Senate confirmed the President's candiate for Secretary of Defense."
"They confirmed his appointment to the post with a unanimous vote."

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 4: administer the rite of religious confirmation

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] CONFIRM NP2[patient] (PP[attribute])

Examples:
"The children were confirmed in their mother's faith."
"The elders confirmed the newcomer as a full member of the church."

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: Rite
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5