▪ I. attest, v.
(əˈtɛst)
[a. F. atteste-r, OF. atester, ad. L. attestā-ri, f. at- = ad- to + testā-ri to bear witness, f. testis witness.]
1. a. trans. To bear witness to, affirm the truth or genuineness of; to testify, certify. Const. simple obj., subord. clause, inf. phr., or absol.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 37 Live thou! and to thy mother dead attest That cleare she dide from blemish criminall. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 367 Thy constancie..who can know, Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? 1718 Pope Iliad iii. 569 Ye Trojans..Hear and attest! 1725 ― Odyss. xix. 211 Idomeneus, whom Ilian fields attest Of matchless deed. 1875 J. Curtis Hist. Eng. 154 The merit of the English bowmen..is strongly attested by Froissart. |
b. formally (a) by signature, (b) by oath.
| 1665 Manley Grotius' Low-C. Wars 463 The publick Instruments of this League..were solemnly attested with publick Joy. 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. vi. (1851) 262 For fear or hope of reward they attested what was not true. 1708 Swift Bickerstaff Det. Wks. 1755 II. i. 163, I will assert nothing here, but what I dare attest. 1836 [see attester]. |
2. transf. of things: To be evidence or proof of, testify to, vouch for.
| 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. Cho. 16 Since a crooked Figure may Attest in little place, a Million. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. II, Physical appearances attest the high antiquity of the globe. 1876 Green Short Hist. i. §4 (1882) 37 Forty-five works remained after his death to attest his prodigious industry. |
3. intr. To bear witness, testify to.
| 1672 Wilkins Nat. Relig. 302 To the reasonableness of this, several of the wisest heathens have attested. 1875 Scrivener Lect. Grk. Test. 15 The principal witnesses which attest to it. |
4. trans. To call to witness. arch. or Obs. (So in Fr.)
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. ii. 132 But I attest the gods, your full consent Gaue wings to my propension. 1796 T. Jefferson in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) IV. 483, I attest everything sacred and honorable to the declaration. 1880 Blackmore M. Anerley III. i. 8 Flamborough had called to witness Filey, and Filey had attested Bridlington. |
5. To put (a man) on his oath; techn. among ‘Friends,’ to put him on his solemn declaration. Also, to administer the oath of allegiance to a military recruit (see quot. 1812); used esp. in connection with the ‘Derby Scheme’ of 1915. Also intr., to enrol oneself as ready for military service when called up.
| 1685 Col. Records Penn. I. 148 It was against their methods to take an Oath, but if he pleased to be attested, according to y⊇ Laws of the Province, they would attest him. Ibid. Then he was attested thus: Thou dost Solemnly declare in y⊇ Presents of God, and before this board, that thou will truly and Justly performe y⊇ office of y⊇ King's Collector. 1812 Wellington in Gurwood Disp. IX. 153 They are to be attested according to the following form..I, A.B. do make oath, etc. 1915 Ld. Derby in Times 20 Oct. 10/1 They would be medically examined, and, if found fit, attested there and then. 1917 J. H. Worrall Tribunal Hand-bk. 128 Police magistrates who..will not..see that the attested man before them is shorn of justice, because, unfortunately for him, he attested. 1922 Encycl. Brit. XXX. 212/2 In Oct. 1915, the ‘Derby Scheme’ or ‘Group System’ was initiated by Lord Derby... Between Oct. 25 and the middle of Dec. 2,000,000 men were attested under this system. |
▪ II. attest, n.
(əˈtɛst)
[f. prec. vb.]
1. Evidence, testimony, witness.
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. ii. 122 (Qo.) A credence in my heart..That doth inuert th' attest [Folio that test] of eyes and eares. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. (1650) 143 Nor will the attest or prescript of Philosophers..be a sufficient ground. 1830 Wordsw. Egypt. Maid, Here must a high attest be given, What Bridegroom was for her ordained by Heaven. |
2. Attesting signature, attestation.
| 1649 Selden Laws Eng. ii. Pref. (1739) 6 The attests of the King's Chaplain and his Scribe, do shew also that they were not all Members of the House of Lords. |