[a. F. certification, or ad. med.L. certificātiōn-em, n. of action f. certificāre: see CERTIFY v. and -ATION.] The action of certifying or fact of being certified; the form in which this is embodied.
1. Information making one certain of a fact, etc.; certain notification or notice.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlv. 174 (Harl. MS.). Of the whiche ridinge that othere kniȝt had certificacione.
1683. E. Hooker, Pref. Pordage’s Mystic Div., 99. (Style it what you please) Revelation, Manifestation, Inspiration, Communication, Certification, Declaration, or if you wil Information.
2. Sc. Law. Notice to a party of what is demanded of him, certifying him of the consequences of his non-compliance.
1634–46. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 42. That such … be admonished to return to his Majestie’s obedience; with certification, if they contemptouslie refuise, the spirituall sword shall be used aganis them.
1679. Roy. Proclam. Edinb., 4 May, in Hickes, Spir. Popery (1680), 62. With Certification to such of the said Tenants, Cottars and Servants as shall be absent, they shall be reputed as accessory to the said Crime.
1679–1714. Burnet, Hist. Ref., I. II. 116. With this Certification, That if he appeared not, they would proceed.
3. The action of certifying or guaranteeing the truth of anything; attestation.
1532. More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 801/2. The tradicyon of the fathers … is for the certificacion of a trouth a sure vndoubted authoritie.
1865. Mozley, Mirac., iv. 81. That final certification of these great truths which will be given in another world.
1881. J. H. Ingram, in Poe’s Wks., I. Mem. 20. He obtained a certification of the fact from several companions.
† b. = CERTIFICATE 4. Obs.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 22 a. It shalbee tried by the certificacion of the constable of the kings host.
† 4. Law. A process of obtaining an examination or alteration of a judicial decision, when the omission of important evidence or other oversight is alleged. Obs.
[1292. Britton, IV. ix. § 9. Meutz remedie par certificacioun qe par atteynte.]
1641. Termes de la Ley, 49 b. Certification of Assise of Novel disseisin, &c. is a Writ awarded to re-examine or review a matter passed by Assise before any Justices.
5. The action of making (a person) certain or sure; assurance.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 364. I read in scripture of two certifications: one to the Romans, Justificati ex fide, pacem habemus.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 35. They call that πληροφόρημα, which we call a certification, as when a thing by perswasions is so beate into our minds, that after that we neuer doubt anye more.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., I. liii. 309. This Assurance or Certification … comes in the third place, not in the first.
6. The action of providing with a legal certificate.
1881. Philada. Record, No. 3470. 1. $15000 to be expended for the certification of the health of cattle shipments.
1885. J. R. Gasquet, in 19th Cent., May, 859. The venerable Chairman of the Lunacy Commission, Lord Shaftesbury, was able to support his defence of the present system of certification by the strongest evidence.
Mod. The certification of elementary teachers.
† 7. A certified statement, a certificate. Obs.
a. 1563. Bale, Sel. Wks. (1849), 90. This certification … is untruly forged against him.
1630. Wadsworth, Sp. Pilgr., iv. 33. Hauing taken a false certification from the gouernor of Callis, that the ship … belonged thereunto.
1772. Earl Malmesbury, Diaries & Corr. (1844), I. 79. As soon as the Certifications can be signed and exchanged between the Courts.
