Literary notes about ratify (AI summary)
The word “ratify” in literature has been used to denote formal confirmation or approval, often in contexts involving political, legal, or social arrangements. In some instances, its use conveys the sealing of significant agreements or treaties, as seen when political actors in [1] express concern over New York’s failure to ratify, or when large groups decide to formally accept measures in [2]. At other times, “ratify” carries a personal or more immediate connotation—as in [3], where a promise to ratify an engagement conveys an individual commitment, or in [4], where ratification is a condition for preserving honor. Even in rhetorical or hypothetical inquiries, such as the queen’s possible refusal in [5] or anticipatory approval in [6], the word retains its weight as an endorsement of decisions or principles, showcasing its versatile role across different literary traditions.
- Federalists were much alarmed over the failure of New York to ratify.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Unsavoury as this appendix may be, the Townships, by overwhelming majority, accept and ratify.
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle - Yet she has promised—implied—that she will ratify an engagement to-night.
— from Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy - If you ratify these preliminaries, brother, I yet will endeavour to preserve the honour of your family; if not, I shall continue in a neutral state.”
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding - “Suppose the queen should refuse to ratify it?”
— from Twenty years after by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - “I require an order which would ratify beforehand all that I should think proper to do for the greatest good of France.”
— from The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
