attest
- 01 C1 Advanced
to show that something is true or exists by being an example of it.
to serve as evidence or proof of something. Often used with the preposition 'to'.
Simple“The long lines at the bakery attest to the quality of their bread.”
In context“The numerous awards displayed in the lobby attest to the firm's long-standing commitment to architectural excellence.”
UsageOften takes the preposition 'to' when indicating evidence.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
to state formally that something is true, especially by signing a document.
to affirm that something is correct, true, or genuine, typically in an official or legal capacity.
Simple“The witness had to attest that the signature on the contract was real.”
In context“The notary public is required to attest to the identity of the signatories before the deed can be finalised.”
UsageUsually transitive when used in legal contexts.
“Many attest to the professor’s kindness and the care he lavished on those he was responsible for and, through access programmes, on others he never really knew.”
“Within higher education, Jason Arday is well known for the kindness he promotes; many thousands of the students and staff he has encountered over the years will attest to this.”
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.