certify
UK: /ˈsɜː.tɪ.faɪ/ | US: /ˈsɜːr.t̬ə.faɪ/
vt. to confirm or attest to the truth or validity of something officially
vt. to declare someone mentally ill or incompetent (legal context)
vt. to guarantee or endorse a product or standard
certify = cert<sure> + ify<to make>
- cert (from Latin certus, meaning "sure, fixed, settled") → Retains the core idea of certainty or verification.
- ify (a verb-forming suffix from Latin -ificare, meaning "to make") → Indicates the action of causing or creating the state described by the root.
Etymology Origin:
The word certify traces back to Latin certificare ("to make certain"), combining certus (sure) and -ficare (to make). It entered Middle English via Old French certifier, reflecting its legal and authoritative connotations. The morphemes logically align: cert establishes the concept of certainty, while -ify transforms it into an actionable process—literally "to make sure." This mirrors its modern usage in formal validation (e.g., certified documents) or professional endorsements (e.g., certified experts).
The laboratory will certify the results after thorough testing.
Only licensed psychologists can certify patients for involuntary treatment.
This product is certified organic by the USDA.
The document was certified by a notary public.
She needed to certify her identity before accessing the secure system.