attest
uh-TEST
/əˈtɛst/
To provide or serve as clear evidence of; to declare something to be true or genuine.
Often involves signing a document as a witness to verify that the signatures or facts within it are authentic.
The story behind the word. Attest comes from the Latin attestari, built from ad- (to) and testari (to bear witness). The root word is testis, which means 'witness.' This is the same root that gives us testament and testimony.
Word relationships
- verify: Verify means to prove something is true through investigation, while attest emphasizes acting as a formal witness to the truth.
- corroborate: Corroborate means to support with matching evidence, whereas attest often involves a formal declaration or signature.
- deny: Deny is to declare something is untrue, the direct opposite of attesting to its truth.
- refute: Refute is to prove a statement is false, whereas attest is to declare it is true.
Commonly confused with
- testify: Testify is specifically to give oral evidence in a court of law, while attest is broader and often involves signing documents.
Word family
- attestation (noun): The act of bearing witness or certifying.
Collocations
- attest to the truth
- attest a signature
- witnesses attest
- can attest
Example sentences
- "Two witnesses must attest the signature on the will for it to be legally binding." Document signing
- "My former employer can attest to my work ethic and technical skills." Character reference
Memory hook
When you take a test, you attest to your knowledge. Attest = pass the test of truth.
When not to use
Do not use when you are merely expressing a personal opinion; it requires a sense of formal verification or evidence.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, it was rumored that men had to swear oaths by holding their testicles (testes), though modern linguists believe the shared root simply refers to 'standing as a third party' (tri-stis) to a dispute.
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