a. and sb. [ad. med.L. certificātōrius, f. certificātor: see -ORY.]
A. adj. Having the function of certifying; of the nature of a certificate. = Letter certificatory (transl. of med.L. certificatoria littera): a certificate, a written testimonial.
1520. Sir R. Wingfield, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 59, I. 167. The manner of the delivery … of the Kyngs Lettres certificatory.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 227/2. The king … sent abrode his letters certificatorie.
1627. J. Carter, Expos. Serm. on Mount, 66. He maketh our forgiuing of others … the certificatory cause (if I may so speake).
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. III. v. Every Citizen must produce his certificatory Carte de Civisme, signed by Section-President.
† B. sb. Short for letter certificatory. Obs.
1695. Kennett, Par. Antiq., ix. 647. It was sometime their corrupt practice to return their Certificatories before they had duely publish’d their Citations.
1702. Hist. Convoc. Canterbury, 29. The Bishop of London presented his Certificatory or Return, upon Execution of the Archbishop’s Mandate.
