Attest Meaning
/əˈtɛst/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo affirm to be correct, true, or genuine.
verbTo certify by signature or oath.
Sentence Examples
The fingerprints on the knife attest to her guilt.
His success attest his diligence.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The witness can ____ to the accuracy of the report in court.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I can ____ to the truth of his statement because I was there myself.
Word Origin & History
PIE word *tréyes Borrowed from Middle French attester, from Latin attestor (“to witness to, bear witness”), from at-, combining form of ad (“to”) + testor (“to bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Dishonour not your Mothers: now attest that those whom you call'd Fathers, did beget you."
— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
"[W]e have already ſeen many particular facts vvhich are recorded in holy vvrit, atteſted by particular Pagan Authors: […]"
— a. 1720 (date written), Joseph Addison, “Section III. The Providence of God.”, in The Evidences of the Christian Religion, […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], published 1730, →OCLC, subsection VII, page 25:
"As the Wildlings can attest, there’s already new life even north of the wall, poking up through the ice. Winter only lasts so long."
— 2019 May 19, Alex McLevy, “The final Game Of Thrones brings a pensive but simple meditation about stories (newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 22 May 2019:
"O pardon : since a crooked Figure may / Attest in little place a Million, / And let us, Cyphers to this great Accompt, / On your imaginarie Forces worke."
— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act PROLOGUE, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
"The supplementary bibliography (in Vol. VI) attests to the comprehensiveness of the effort."
— 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page viii:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The witness can ____ to the accuracy of the report in court.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I can ____ to the truth of his statement because I was there myself.