Definition of 'attest'

Word Frequency

attest

(ətest )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense attests , present participle attesting , past tense, past participle attested

verb

To attest something or attest to something means to say, show, or prove that it is true.

[formal]

Police records attest to his long history of violence. [VERB + to]

I can personally attest that the cold and flu season is here. [VERB that]

His beautifully illustrated book well attested his love of the university. [VERB noun]

[Also VERB with quote]

Synonyms: testify, show, prove, confirm More Synonyms of attest

Word Frequency

attest in British

(əˈtɛst )

verb

1. (transitive)

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. (transitive)

to make evident; demonstrate

his life of luxury attests his wealth

4. (transitive)

to provide evidence for

the marks in the ground attested the presence of a fossil

Derived forms

attestable (atˈtestable)

adjective

attestant (atˈtestant), attester (atˈtester) or especially law attestor (atˈtestor) or attestator (atˈtestator)

noun

attestation (ˌætɛˈsteɪʃən )

noun

Word origin of 'attest'

C16: from Latin attestārī to prove, from testārī to bear witness, from testis a witness

Word Frequency

attest in American

(əˈtɛst ; ətestˈ)

verb transitive

to declare to be true or genuine

to certify by oath or signature

to serve as proof of; demonstrate; make clear

to place (a person) on oath

5. Linguistics

to verify the existence of (a form believed to have occurred in a language)

an attested form is written in an etymology without an asterisk before it

verb intransitive

to bear witness; certify or testify (to)

Derived forms

attester (atˈtester)

noun or atˈtestor

Word origin of 'attest'

Fr attester < L attestari < ad-, to + testari, to bear witness < testis, a witness: see testify

Example sentences containing 'attest'

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So his modernity is something to which few of us can personally attest. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It is well attested in the earliest sources. Christianity Today (2000)The sheer extent and ambition of this book attest to a gothic turn in literary and cultural studies. The Times Literary Supplement (2013)The huge advance that she secured for the book attests to the place she has carved out on the cultural landscape. Times, Sunday Times (2014)In its valleys of death, it attests life. Times, Sunday Times (2008)I can personally attest to the effect they had. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The sin was well attested. Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)I can personally attest to this. Times, Sunday Times (2015)As history attests, it didn't last. Times, Sunday Times (2012)You're a fighter, as those who know you well can attest. Times, Sunday Times (2013)The relationship between nutritious food, which is not always provided at home, and concentration span is well attested. Times, Sunday Times (2014)

Trends of 'attest'

In Common Usage. attest is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'attest'

British English: attest VERB

To attest something or attest to something means to say, show, or prove that it is true.

Anyone who has heard the band can attest to their skill.

American English: attest
Brazilian Portuguese: atestar
Chinese: 证明
European Spanish: atestiguar
French: témoigner
German: bestätigen
Italian: attestare
Japanese: 証明する
Korean: 증명하다
European Portuguese: atestar
Spanish: atestiguar

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Nearby words of 'attest'

Source

Definition of attest from the Collins English Dictionary

The subjunctive

The subjunctive was formerly used in English for situations that were improbable or that expressed a wish. It is only rarely used in modern British English. It is, however, found in certain set phras...