What does vidimus mean?
Vidimus is a formal legal and administrative noun for an attestation or signed certificate confirming that someone has personally examined a document. In practice, the person signing it states that they have seen the original, allowing another party to rely on that verification without repeating the inspection. The term is uncommon in ordinary conversation but useful in legal correspondence, deeds, records and institutional procedures, where its Latin character lends precision and formality. Its literal origin is the Latin first-person plural perfect of videre, “to see,” meaning “we have seen.” A vidimus therefore records a completed act of seeing rather than merely describing the document’s contents. Although many audiences will recognize the same root in vision, visible and video, the specialized English meaning is narrower than those general terms. Understanding it helps distinguish an attested examination of an original document from a copy, summary or unverified claim about its contents.
nounA formal attestation, often issued as a signed certificate, confirming that a person has personally examined a document.
- A formal attestation or signed certificate confirming that the signer has personally examined a document.
"The solicitor signed the vidimus to confirm that the original deed had been examined."
"The solicitor signed the vidimus to confirm that the original deed had been examined."
"A member of the archive staff issued a vidimus for the copy submitted as evidence."
The standard plural is formed by adding the ending -es.
"The originals were accompanied by two separate vidimuses."
Its Latin beginning means “we have seen”: a vidimus is literally proof that an original document has been witnessed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vidimus
Vidimus comes from Latin vidīmus, the first-person plural perfect indicative of vidēre, “to see,” literally “we have seen.” The Latin form was adopted into English legal and administrative usage for a signed attestation that a document had been inspected. Its relatives include video, vision, visible and evident, all associated with the Latin root videre.
Related word forms
How vidimus is actually used
This is formal, specialized vocabulary found chiefly in legal, administrative and record-keeping contexts. It is uncommon in everyday English.
Easily confused with vidimus
Video is an English noun or verb referring to recorded moving images, whereas a vidimus is a document attestation or certificate.