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attest

[uh-test]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to bear witness to; certify; declare to be correct, true, or genuine; declare the truth of, in words or writing, especially affirm in an official capacity: to attest the truth of a statement.
  2. to give proof or evidence of; manifest: His works attest his industry.
  3. to put on oath.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to testify or bear witness (often followed by to): to attest to the reliability of an employee.
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noun
  1. Archaic. witness; testimony; attestation.
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Origin of attest

1590–1600; (< Middle French attester) < Latin attestārī to bear witness to, equivalent to at- at- + testārī (test(is) a witness + -ā- thematic vowel + -rī infinitive suffix)
Related formsat·test·a·ble, adjectiveat·test·ant, nounat·test·er, at·tes·tor, at·tes·ta·tor [uh-tes-tey-ter, at-e-stey-] /əˈtɛs teɪ tər, ˈæt ɛˌsteɪ-/, nounat·tes·tive, adjectivere·at·test, verb (used with object)un·at·test·ed, adjectivewell-at·test·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for attesting

Historical Examples

  • You say that you have a paper, signed by Jacob Morton, attesting your identity.

    Tom, The Bootblack

    Horatio Alger

  • He is, however, allowed the usual privileges on attesting that he is not an Israelite.

    A Tramp's Wallet

    William Duthie

  • Such are ever the brows of Jupiter; attesting the theory of Aristotle.

  • Define and describe signing, attesting, and acknowledging a will.

  • Braddyll, Esq.—received depositions from the attesting parties.

British Dictionary definitions for attesting

attest

verb
  1. (tr) to affirm the correctness or truth of
  2. (when intr, usually foll by to) to witness (an act, event, etc) or bear witness to (an act, event, etc) as by signature or oath
  3. (tr) to make evident; demonstratehis life of luxury attests his wealth
  4. (tr) to provide evidence forthe marks in the ground attested the presence of a fossil
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Derived Formsattestable, adjectiveattestant, attester, esp law attestor or attestator, nounattestation (ˌætɛˈsteɪʃən), noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin attestārī to prove, from testārī to bear witness, from testis a witness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for attesting

attest

v.

1590s, from Middle French attester (Old French atester, 13c.) "affirm, attest," from Latin attestari "confirm," literally "bear witness to," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + testari "bear witness," from testis "witness" (see testament). Related: Attested; attesting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper