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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Certify, Certifé, v. Also: certyfy, -ifye, -if(f)ie, certief(f)ie; certefy(e, -fie, -fé; sertifie, sertefye (sarttyfie, seirtavy, -awy). [ME. certifie (1330), certyfy, sertefye, etc., OF. certe-, certifier, late L. certificāre.]

1. tr. To assure (a person) by information; to inform definitely. Freq. const. with of. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 328.
Fore we Be that certyfit suld be, That quha hofine is [etc.] 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
And qwhat yhe wochesaff … to do … ȝhe walde certify me be your letter c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 296.
Anthenor … went to Pryame … To certifye hym of this thyng Ib. 2317.
He was certefyed That folk his kynryk occupy ed 1439 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 6.
The schersuris sall ilk day certiefie the gouernance in Leyth 1468 Ib. 21.
Prayng ws … that we walde … avise tharapon, and to certyfy you in write with the berar 1513 Doug. xi. xi. 11.
I the declar and certifeis, quod sche, Abuf all other full deyr is sche to me c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 533.
Of all dowttis thay wald thame certifie 1562-3 Winȝet I. 65/28.
We ar certifiit be haly Scripturis, that hypocritis … hes sumtyme reule aboue the peple for thare iniquite 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 174.
Sen we ar certifiit assuritlie quha is the Juge 1567 Reg. Morton I. 22.
That thai being certifeit of the veritie may be resoluit of all dout a1578 Pitsc. I. 214/9.
They, certiefieit of this mater, raissit thair airme and came all to Leyth Ib. 217/12.
He certieffieit sum of the lordis quhair the kingis pose was 1603 Wemyss Corr. 58.
To certefye yow off the tyme of our deperting

b. To assure by way of warning. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 253/1.
That thai … mak publicatioun of this … certifying thaim quha doys in the contrare [etc.] 1535 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 71.
Certefeing thame that and thai compeir nocht … thai sall be haldin to pay [etc.] 1548 Ib. 134.
Certefeand sic persouns as beis wairnit and comperis nocht [etc.] 1577 Douglas Corr. 227.
[To] caus the like proclamatioun be renewed … certefeing all men quhome this mater may twiche, that [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II. 93/11.
Lettres to certiefie the governour and his consall gif that thai war nocht contentit that [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xviii. 28.
Ryis up, concur, and thame certifie … Ȝe will … Mak weir on thame 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 20.
Certifeing thame if they did it not, that he wald caus cut ane bow of the said bridge

2. absol. To give assurance or information. 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
Gif thir covenantz … likis or mislikis … thay sall certifie be thair lettres opon Blak Monday c1515 Asl. MS. I. 153/12.
He sayis alsa that Pilat certefyit to Tyberius of merwallis that Crist wrocht in Iowry

3. tr. To give assurance of; to confirm. a1500 Henr. III. 107/27.
Of erdly ioy … The glore … can na man certify a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 320.
Thow … geris me … thair ald sin with new schame certify 1508 Rentale Dunkeld. fol. 46.
Sa is seirtawiit & elike betuix my Lord and the said Dauid off all sowmes … bighane 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 178.
Sen strenth, … Vertew nor bewtie, none may certefy … for to remane ane hour 15.. Clar. ii. 1198.
The companie … did the manier plainlie sertifie Of all the justing