- corroborate (v.)
- early 16c., "to give (legal) confirmation to," from L. corroborat-, pp. stem of corroborare "to strengthen, invigorate," from cor- (see com-) "together" (perhaps here intens.) + roborare "to make strong," from robur, robus "strength," (see robust). Meaning "to strengthen by evidence, to confirm" is from 1706. Sometimes in early use the word also has its literal Latin sense, especially of medicines. Related: Corroborated (1822); corroborating (1520s); corroborative (1580s).