Attest v.

[a. F. atteste-r, OF. atester, ad. L. attestā-ri, f. at- = ad- to + testā-ri to bear witness, f. testis witness.]

  1.  trans. To bear witness to, affirm the truth or genuineness of; to testify, certify. Const. simple obj., subord. cl., 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! Ibid. (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.  Shaks., 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.  Shaks., 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, Mary Anerley, III. i. 8. Flamborough had called to witness Filey, and Filey had attested Bridlington, that a stranger on horse-back had appeared among them, with a purpose obscurely evil.

  5.  To put (a man) on his oath; techn. among ‘Friends,’ to put him on his solemn declaration.

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^e Laws of the Province, they would attest him. Ibid. Then he was attested thus: Thou dost Solemnly declare in y^e Presents of God, and before this board, that thou will truly and Justly performe y^e office of y^e King’s Collector.

1812.  Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., IX. 153. They are to be attested according to the following form…. I, A. B., do make oath [etc.].