attest

English

Etymology

From Middle French attester, from Latin attestor (“to witness to, bear witness”), from at-, combining form of ad (“to”) + testor (“to bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”).

Pronunciation

Verb

attest (third-person singular simple present attests, present participle attesting, simple past and past participle attested)

To affirm to be correct, true, or genuine.
When will the appraiser attest the date of the painting?
- Addison
  facts […] attested by particular pagan authors
- 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.
To certify by signature or oath
You must attest your will in order for it to be valid.
To certify in an official capacity.
To supply or be evidence of
Her fine work attested her ability.
- 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page viii
  The supplementary bibliography (in Vol. VI) attests to the comprehensiveness of the effort.
- 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.
To put under oath.
To call to witness; to invoke.
- Dryden
  The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state / Attests in oaths, and fears to violate.

Derived terms

attestation
attested
attestment

Translations

to affirm to be correct, true, or genuine

Albanian: dëshmoj (sq), vërteroj (sq)
Bulgarian: потвърждавам (bg) (potvǎrždavam), заверявам (bg) (zaverjavam), удостоверявам (bg) (udostoverjavam)
Czech: potvrdit (cs)
Dutch: attesteren (nl)
Esperanto: atesti (eo)

Romanian: atesta (ro), confirma (ro), adeveri (ro)
Russian: подтверждать (ru) (podtverždatʹ)
Spanish: avalar (es), atestiguar (es)
Swedish: attestera (sv)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked