-ˌfī verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English certifien, from Middle French certifier, from Late Latin certificare, from certi- (from Latin certus certain) + Latin -ficare -fy — more at certain
transitive verb
1. : to attest especially authoritatively or formally:
a. : confirm
cards certifying me as a member of the … Civil Defense Corps — Wilder Hobson
she is not permitted aboard a plane unless a doctor certifies the trip is necessary — Henry La Cossitt
certifies his dramatic talent as the assassin in a nerve-thrumming piece — Newsweek
b. : to present in formal communication, especially in a document under hand or seal
the judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor — William Blackstone
c. : to confirm or attest often by a document under hand or seal as being true, meeting a standard, or being as represented
the director … has certified about 140 acres as meeting the conditions presented in the statute — H.S.Truman
they could certify on their honor that their extract contained no salicylic acid — V.G.Heiser
a certified copy of the record
a certified agent of the law
d. : to attest officially to (a person's) insanity
a certified mental case
certified defectives
2. : to inform with certainty : assure
it does not, of course, certify us of the truth of any event in the past or future — W.R.Inge
3. : to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating on its face — see certified check
4.
a. : to designate as having met the requirements for pursuing a certain kind of study or work
certify a student for college
b. : certificate , license
certify a teacher
certify a physician
intransitive verb
: to attest by a certificate
five year program leading to examination by the American Board which certifies in that specialty — Bulletin of Meharry Medical College
Synonyms: see approve