unattested
Americanadjective
-
not certified or confirmed; not attested.
an unattested codicil to her will.
-
of or noting a word, phrase, usage, etc., that has not been proven to exist, especially in writing.
an unattested earlier form reconstructed by linguists.
Etymology
Origin of unattested
First recorded in 1665–70; un- 1 ( def. ) + attest ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet time and again Bach has restored text that was far from clearly missing, or has changed perfectly plausible sounding, but in fact unattested, wording to the standard Lutheran rendering.
From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2018
It was a mere unattested memorandum; and he pronounced, as the legal phrase is, for the original will.
From Memoir of Queen Adelaide Consort of King William IV. by Doran, Dr. John
The trade in antiquities is too cheap and easy a thing in Italy to allow faith in unattested relics.
From From the Oak to the Olive A Plain record of a Pleasant Journey by Howe, Julia Ward
Concede what you please to these arbitrary and unattested superstitions, how will they help you?
From Evolution, Old & New Or, the Theories of Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck, as compared with that of Charles Darwin by Butler, Samuel
The Instrument is simply a document on parchment, signed by the King, but unsealed and unattested.
From Art in England Notes and Studies by Cook, Dutton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
