attest

1 provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes; "His high fever attested to his illness"; "The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication"; "This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness" [syn: certify, manifest, demonstrate, evidence]

2 authenticate, affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity; "I attest this signature"

3 give testimony in a court of law [syn: testify, take the stand, bear witness]

4 establish or verify the usage of; "This word is not attested until 1993"

English

Etymology

From lang=la

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛst

Verb

1. To affirm to be correct, true, or genuine.

   When will the appraiser attest the date of the painting?

2. To certify by signature or oath

   You must attest your will in order for it to be valid.

3. To certify in an official capacity.
4. To supply or be evidence of

   Will her fine work attest her ability.

5. To put under oath.

Derived terms

• attestation
• attested
• attestment

Quotations

* 1599 — Shakespeare, Henry V iii 1 (Act ii in First Folio edition)

• Dishonour not your Mothers: now attest that those whom you call'd Fathers, did beget you.

• 1599 — Shakespeare, Henry V Prologue (First Folio edition)

  O pardon : since a crooked Figure may

  Attest in little place a Million,

  And let us, Cyphers to this great Accompt,

  On your imaginarie Forces worke.

Translations

• French: attester
• Ido: atestar
• Spanish: atestiguar

See also

• cite
• quote

Swedish

Noun

attest

1. certification, authorization; certificate

Related terms

• attestera

acknowledge, affirm, allege, and candle, announce, approve, argue, assert, assert under oath, asseverate, assure, authenticate, aver, avouch, avow, back, back up, be sponsor for, bear out, bear witness, bespeak, betoken, bolster, bond, book, breathe, buttress, certify, circumstantiate, confirm, connote, corroborate, countersecure, declare, demonstrate, denote, depone, depose, disclose, display, document, endorse, ensure, evidence, evince, exhibit, express, fortify, furnish evidence, give evidence, give indication of, go to show, guarantee, guaranty, illustrate, imply, indicate, insure, involve, kiss the book, manifest, mark, point to, probate, prove, ratify, reinforce, secure, set forth, show, show signs of, sign, sign for, signalize, signify, speak for itself, speak volumes, sponsor, stand behind, stand up for, strengthen, subscribe to, substantiate, suggest, support, sustain, swear, swear by bell, swear the truth, swear to, swear to God, swear to goodness, symptomatize, tell, tend to show, testify, undergird, undersign, underwrite, uphold, validate, verify, vouch, vouch for, vouchsafe, vow, warrant, witness