Adjacent Words

Certify definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CERTIFY, v.t.
1. To testify to in writing; to make a declaration in writing, under hand, or hand and seal, to make known or establish a fac.
The judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor, and upon such certificate, the decree is usually founded.
The Judge shall certify under his hand, that the freehold came chiefly in question.
2. To give certain information to; applied to persons.
We have sent and certified the king. Ezra 4.
3. To give certain information of; applied to things.
This is designed to certify those things that are confirmed of Gods favor.
It is followed by of, after the person, and before the thing told; as, I certified you of the fact.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
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: attest, certify, manifest, demonstrate, evidence]
2: guarantee payment on; of checks
3: authorize officially; "I am licensed to practice law in this state" [syn: license, licence, certify] [ant: decertify, derecognise, derecognize]
4: guarantee as meeting a certain standard; "certified grade AAA meat" [syn: certify, endorse, indorse]
5: declare legally insane

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (-fied; -fying) Etymology: Middle English certifien, from Anglo-French certefier, from Late Latin certificare, from Latin certus certain — more at certain Date: 14th century 1. to attest authoritatively: as a. confirm b. to present in formal communication c. to attest as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard d. to attest officially to the insanity of 2. to inform with certainty ; assure 3. to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating on the face 4. to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field <agencies that certify teachers> • certifier noun Synonyms: certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something. certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal <certified that the candidate had met all requirements>. attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses <attested to the authenticity of the document>. witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness <witnessed the signing of the will>. vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person <willing to vouch for her integrity>. Synonym: see in addition approve.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 make a formal statement of; attest; attest to (certified that he had witnessed the crime). 2 declare by certificate (that a person is qualified or competent) (certified as a trained bookkeeper). 3 officially declare insane (he should be certified). Phrases and idioms: certified cheque a cheque the validity of which is guaranteed by a bank. certified mail US = recorded delivery (see RECORD). certified milk milk guaranteed free from the tuberculosis bacillus. Etymology: ME f. OF certifier f. med.L certificare f. L certus certain

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Certify Cer"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Certified; p. pr. & vb. n. Certifying.] [F. certifier, LL. certificare; L. certus certain + facere to make. See Certain, and cf. Certificate, v. t.] 1. To give cetain information to; to assure; to make certain. We certify the king, that . . . thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. --Ezra iv. 16. 2. To give certain information of; to make certain, as a fact; to verify. --Hammond. The industry of science at once certifies and greatly extends our knowledge of the vastness of the creation. --I. Taylor. 3. To testify to in writing; to make a declaration concerning, in writing, under hand, or hand and seal. The judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor, and upon such certificate the decree is usually founded. --Blackstone. Certified check, A bank check, the validity of which is certified by the bank on which it is drawn.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(certifies, certifying, certified) 1. If someone in an official position certifies something, they officially state that it is true. ...if the president certified that the project would receive at least $650m from overseas sources... The National Election Council is supposed to certify the results of the election... It has been certified as genuine... Mrs Simpson was certified dead. VERB: V that, V n, be V-ed as adj, be V-ed adj • certification (certifications) An employer can demand written certification that the relative is really ill. N-VAR 2. If someone is certified as a particular kind of worker, they are given a certificate stating that they have successfully completed a course of training in their profession. They wanted to get certified as divers. ...a certified accountant... VERB: usu passive, get V-ed as n, V-ed • certification Pupils would be offered on-the-job training leading to the certification of their skill in a particular field. N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ser'-ti-fi: Occurs in

(1) 2Sa 15:28 (haggidh, "to show," "announce," from naghadh);

(2) Ezr 4:14,16; 5:10; 7:24 (hodha`, "to make known," from yedha'; Aramaic for yadha`);

(3) Es 2:22 the King James Version ('amar, "to say," "tell," so the Revised Version (British and American)); and

(4) Ga 1:11 the King James Version gnorizo, "to make to know," so the Revised Version (British and American).

In the English Versions of the Bible, accordingly, the word has not the strong, specific sense of "to make certain," but only the broader sense of "to make to know." Compare Ps 39:5 (Prayer Book version), "that I may be certified how long I have to live."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Attest, testify to, vouch for. 2. Verify, ascertain, determine, make certain.

Moby Thesaurus

OK, accept, accredit, acknowledge, affirm, allege, amen, and candle, approve, ascertain, assert, assert under oath, asseverate, assure, attest, authenticate, authorize, autograph, aver, avouch, avow, back, back up, be sponsor for, bear out, bear witness, bolster, bond, book, buttress, certificate, charter, cinch, circumstantiate, classify, clear up, clinch, commission, confirm, corroborate, cosign, countersecure, countersign, decide, declare, depone, depose, determine, disclose, dismiss all doubt, document, empower, enable, endorse, enfranchise, ensure, entitle, establish, find out, fix, fortify, franchise, get at, give evidence, give official sanction, give permission, give power, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, guarantee, guaranty, initial, insure, kiss the book, legalize, legitimize, license, make certain, make no doubt, make no mistake, make sure, make sure of, nail down, notarize, pass, pass on, pass upon, patent, permit, privilege, probate, profess, prove, ratify, reassure, reinforce, remove all doubt, rubber stamp, sanction, say amen to, seal, second, secure, see that, see to it, set at rest, settle, sign, sign and seal, sign for, sort out, sponsor, stand behind, stand up for, strengthen, subscribe to, substantiate, support, sustain, swear, swear and affirm, swear by bell, swear the truth, swear to, swear to God, swear to goodness, testify, undergird, undersign, underwrite, uphold, validate, verify, visa, vise, vouch, vouch for, vouchsafe, vow, warrant, witness