au·then·ti·cate [ aw théntə kàyt ] (past and past participle au·then·ti·cat·ed, present participle au·then·ti·cat·ing, 3rd person present singular au·then·ti·cates)
transitive verb
1. confirm genuineness or truth of something: to establish that something is genuine or that an account is true
2. establish as valid: to establish something such as a deed or document as legally valid
Can you use that word in a sentence?
Sure. It's going to be damn near impossible to authenticate the documents after they've been a) photocopied, and b) re-typed on plain paper and in a different font, and c) the originals are unavailable and d) the photocopies of the originals were destroyed.
Authenticate. a-u-t-h-e-n-t-i-c-a-t-e. Authenticate.
Did anyone learn anything from the Killian memos? Now, I'm not saying they're fake. But to believe in their veracity without question requires taking the word of a ... reporter? That's not perhaps the most sturdy cornerstone on which to build your house.
UPDATE: Agreed.
UPDATE: Like I said above, I'm not saying the memos are fake. In fact, I think it's likely they're real accurate transcriptions, considering how little of substance is contained within, especially if you wish to make a case against Pres. Bush and PM Blair. It's just not going to be possible to prove that they are real accurate transcriptions, unless the British government is forced to release the originals. In that case the anonymous source of the memos will be 'outed'. It's a slippery slope, isn't it?
Power Line has more. And Jay Tea summarizes nicely.
