Cer-tĭf'i-cate1, n.
n. [Fr. certificat, It. certificato, from L. Lat. certificatus, made certain, p. p. of certificare. See infra.]
- A written testimony to the truth of any fact; as, a certificate of good behavior.
- A written declaration legally authenticated.
Trial by certificate, a trial in which the testimony of the person certifying is the only proper criterion of the point in dispute; as, when the issue is whether a person was absent in the army, this is tried by the certificate of the proper officer in writing, under his seal. Blackstone.