from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Certificate \Cer*tif"i*cate\, n. [F. certificat, fr. LL.
certificatus made certain, p. p. of certificare. See {tify}.]
1. A written testimony to the truth of any fact; as,
certificate of good behavior.
[1913 Webster]
2. A written declaration legally authenticated.
[1913 Webster]
{Trial by certificate}, a trial 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.
[1913 Webster]