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]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Certificate \Cer*tif"i*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Certificated; p. pr. & vb. n. Certificating.] [See
   Certify.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To verify or vouch for by certificate.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To furnish with a certificate; as, to certificate the
      captain of a vessel; a certificated teacher.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

certificate
    n 1: a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
         [syn: certificate, certification, credential,
         credentials]
    2: a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to
       finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive
       interest or dividends; "he held several valuable securities"
       [syn: security, certificate]
    v 1: present someone with a certificate
    2: authorize by certificate

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

60 Moby Thesaurus words for "certificate":
   CD, IOU, MO, acceptance, acceptance bill, affidavit, attestation,
   authority, authorization, bank acceptance, bank check, bill,
   bill of draft, bill of exchange, bill of health, blank check,
   certificate of deposit, certificate of proficiency, certification,
   certified check, check, checkbook, cheque, commercial paper,
   credential, debenture, demand bill, demand draft, deposition,
   diploma, draft, due bill, exchequer bill, letter of credit,
   money order, navicert, negotiable instrument, notarized statement,
   note, note of hand, paper, postal order, promissory note,
   sheepskin, sight bill, sight draft, sworn statement, testamur,
   testimonial, ticket, time bill, time draft, trade acceptance,
   treasury bill, visa, vise, voucher, warrant, warranty, witness



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CERTIFICATE, practice. A writing made in any court, and properly
authenticated, to give notice to another court of anything done therein; or
it is a writing by which an officer or other person bears testimony that a
fact has or has not taken place.
     2. There are two kinds of certificates; those required by the law, and
those which are merely voluntary. Of the first kind are certificates given
to an insolvent of his discharge, and those given to aliens, that they have
been naturalized. Voluntary certificates are those which are not required by
law, but which are given of the mere motion of the party. The former are
evidence of the facts therein mentioned, while the latter are not entitled
to any credit, because the facts certified, may be proved in the usual way
under the solemnity of an oath or affirmation. 2 Com. Dig. 306; Ayl. Parerg.
157; Greenl. Ev. Sec. 498.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CERTIFICATE, ATTORNEY'S, Practice, English law. By statute 37 Geo. III., c.
90, s. 26, 28, attorneys are required to deliver to the commissioners of
stamp duties, a paper or note in writing, containing the name and usual
place of residence of such person, and thereupon, on paying certain duties,
such person is entitled to a certificate attesting the payment of such
duties, which must be renewed yearly. And by the 30th section, an attorney
is liable to the penalty of fifty pounds for practising without.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CERTIFICATE, JUDGE'S, English practice. The judge who tries the cause is
authorized by several statutes in certain cases to certify, so as to decide
when the party or parties shall or shall not be entitled to costs. It is of
great importance in many cases, that these certificates should be obtained
at the time of trial. See 3 Camp. R. 316; 5 B. & A. 796; Tidd's Pr. 879; 3
Ch. Pr. 458, 486.
     2. The Lord Chancellor often requires the opinion of the judges upon a
question of law; to obtain this, a case is trained, containing the
admissions on both sides, and upon these the legal question is stated; the
case is then submitted to the judges, who, after hearing counsel, transmit
to the chancellor their opinion. This opinion, signed by the judges of the
court, is called their certificate. See 3 Bl. Com. 453.