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Webster 1913 Edition


Authentic

Au-then′tic

,
Adj.
[OE.
autentik
, OF.
autentique
, F.
authentique
, L.
authenticus
coming from the real author, of original or firsthand authority, from Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] suicide, a perpetrator or real author of any act, an absolute master;
αὐτόσ
self + a form
ἑντησ
(not found), akin to L.
sons
and perh. orig. from the p. pr. of
εἶναι
to be, root
as
, and meaning
the one it really is
. See
Am
,
Sin
,
Noun.
, and cf.
Effendi
.]
1.
Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real;
as, an
authentic
paper or register
.
To be avenged
On him who had stole Jove’s
authentic
fire.
Milton.
2.
Authoritative.
[Obs.]
Milton.
3.
Of approved authority; true; trustworthy; credible;
as, an
authentic
writer; an
authentic
portrait;
authentic
information.
4.
(Law)
Vested with all due formalities, and legally attested.
5.
(Mus.)
Having as immediate relation to the tonic, in distinction from plagal, which has a correspondent relation to the dominant in the octave below the tonic.
Syn.
Authentic
,
Genuine
.
These words, as here compared, have reference to historical documents. We call a document genuine when it can be traced back ultimately to the author or authors from whom it professes to emanate. Hence, the word has the meaning, “not changed from the original, uncorrupted, unadulterated:” as, a genuine text. We call a document authentic when, on the ground of its being thus traced back, it may be relied on as true and authoritative (from the primary sense of “having an author, vouched for”); hence its extended signification, in general literature, of trustworthy, as resting on unquestionable authority or evidence;
as, an
authentic
history; an
authentic
report of facts.
A
genuine
book is that which was written by the person whose name it bears, as the author of it. An
authentic
book is that which relates matters of fact as they really happened. A book may be
genuine
without being,
authentic
, and a book may be
authentic
without being
genuine
.
Bp. Watson.
It may be said, however, that some writers use authentic (as, an authentic document) in the sense of “produced by its professed author, not counterfeit.”

Au-then′tic

,
Noun.
An original (book or document).
[Obs.]
Authentics and transcripts.”
Fuller.

Webster 1828 Edition


Authentic

AUTHEN'TIC

,

Definition 2024


authentic

authentic

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

authentic (comparative more authentic, superlative most authentic)

  1. Of the same origin as claimed; genuine.
    The experts confirmed it was an authentic signature.
  2. Conforming to reality and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief.
    The report was completely authentic.
    an authentic writer; an authentic portrait; authentic information
  3. (music, of a Gregorian mode) Having the final as the lowest note of the mode.
  4. (obsolete) authoritative
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations