v. Forms: 4–7 certifie, -fye, 4–6 certyfye, 5–6 certefie, -fye, 6 certyfie, 7 certefy, (5 sertefye, 7 sertifie), 6– certify. [a. F. certifie-r, in 13th c. certefier, ad. med.L. certificāre, f. cert-us certain + -ficāre: see -FY.]
1. trans. To make (a thing) certain; to guarantee as certain, attest in an authoritative manner; to give certain information of. (Often with clause as object.)
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 249. Þis was certified & sikere.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 192. Though we such thing … Upon our trouthe certifie.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12715. He certifiet sothely in his sad lettur, Þat Agamynon had goten to his gay spouse, Of Priam a prise doghter.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxx. 46. Nowe saye itt save may ye saffely For I will certefie þe same.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 32. To certefye this thinge, sende for the damoysell; and than shal ye know, by her owne mouthe.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 343 (R.). [To] certifie them that Arion was alive and safe.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 29. To certify this remark I may mention the case of a man.
1860. J. P. Kennedy, Rob of Bowl, xi. 110. We may certify what we have seen to his Lordship.
2. To declare or attest by a formal or legal certificate. (Often with compl. inf., or object clause.)
1461. R. Calle, in Paston Lett., 420, II. 58. Jenney and Yelverton hathe certified up in to the Kynges Benche inssurrecions [and] congregacions ayenste me.
1483. Act 1 Rich. III., c. 7 § 2. The said Justices … to certify the same Proclamation to the Kings Justices of the Common Pleas.
1651. N. Bacon, Cont. Hist. Disc., xxii. 180. In case of sickness, or other good cause, sertified and allowed by the Captain.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 214. Unless the judge shall certify under his hand that the freehold or title of the land came chiefly in question.
1788. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 222. The proper officers, comparing every article with its voucher, certified them to be right.
1801. in Med. Jrnl. (1804), XII. 444. This is to certify, that Drs. Marshall and Walker attended at the hospital at Malta, [etc.].
1818. Cruise, Digest, VI. 120. It was certified by the Court of King’s Bench to the Court of Chancery, in a modern case.
1885. Law Times, 16 May, 38/1. The magistrate confidently reversed the previous medical opinion, and certified the man as not insane.
b. U.S. Banking. To certify a cheque: see quot.
1864. Sala, in Daily Tel., 16 July, 5/3. In lieu of our protective system of ‘crossing,’ there is a process known as ‘certifying’ a cheque. The teller puts his initials in one corner, thus warranting the genuineness of the instrument and the fact of the drawer having sufficient funds in the hands of the bank to meet it.
1880. [see CERTIFIED].
3. To make (a person) certain or sure (of a matter); to assure, inform certainly; to give (a person) legal or formal attestation (of).
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 6846. Pilat sent til Tyberius … to certifie hym of þis cas.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlv. 175 (Harl. MS.). Was certifijd of the dethe of the cockes.
1535. Coverdale, Job xii. 8. Speake … to the fyshes of the see, and they shal certifie the.
1581. Rich, Farew. Milit. Prof., 58. Certifying his mother the truthe which he had learned.
1675. Pennsylv. Archives, 1. 32. These are to Certifye all whom it may concerne.
1765. H. Walpole, Lett. (1861), IV. 334. The next post will probably certify you of his death.
1797. Southey, in Life (1849), I. 317. As to what is the cause of the incalculable wretchedness of society … I have long felt certified in my own mind.
b. with clause as second object.
14[?]. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 564. I … sertefynge ȝowe I was late … a monge ryte worschepeful folke.
1526. Tindale, Rom. viii. 16. The same sprete certifieth oure sprete that we are the Sonnes of God.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iii. 32. I goe to certifie her Talbot’s here.
1651. W. G., trans. Cowel’s Inst., 237. The Sheriff is to make his return, and certefy the Justices, whether the party have sufficient Goods and Chattells.
1878. Simpson, Sch. Shaks., I. 56. The following letter certified Cecil that … White was not to inherit all.
c. refl. To make oneself certain, inform oneself certainly; to ascertain.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 470. After hee had fully certified himselfe of the riches abouesayd.
1858. Maxwell, Lett., in Life, x. (1882), 308. I hope to certify myself ere long what sort of ‘friend’s wife’ I am to have.
4. intr. To make certification; to testify to, vouch for.
1625. Bacon, Plantations, Ess. (Arb.), 531. They will … be Lazie … and spend Victuals, and be quickly weary, and then Certifie ouer to their Country, to the Discredit of the Plantation.
1829. Southey, in For. Rev. & Cont. Misc., III. 49. Those for whom the priests would certify might remain.
1874. A. S. Taylor, Med. Jurispr., lxii. (ed. 9), 707. One of the medical men certifying to the insanity of a gentleman.
Hence Certifying vbl. sb., certification.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 43. By … certefienge of cheueteynes of londes, it was i-founde.
