Tes"ti*mo*ny (?), v. t. To witness; to attest; to prove by testimony. [Obs.]
Shak.
Tes"ti*mo*ny (?), n.;
pl. Testimonies (#). [L.
testimonium, from testis a witness: cf. OF.
testimoine, testemoine, testimonie. See Testify.]
1. A solemn
declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact.
&fist; Such declaration, in judicial proceedings, may be verbal
or written, but must be under oath or
affirmation.
2. Affirmation; declaration; as, these doctrines are supported by the uniform testimony
of the fathers; the belief of
past facts must depend on the
evidence of human testimony, or the testimony of
historians.
3. Open
attestation; profession.
[Thou] for the
testimony of truth, hast borne
Universal reproach.
Milton.
4. Witness; evidence; proof of some fact.
When ye depart thence, shake off the
dust under your feet for
a testimony against them.
Mark vi. 11. 5. (Jewish Antiq.) The two tables of the law.
Thou shalt put into the
ark the testimony which I shall give
thee.
Ex. xxv.
16. 6. Hence, the whole divine revelation; the sacre&?; Scriptures.
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Ps. xix. 7. Syn. -- Proof; evidence; attestation;
witness; affirmation;
confirmation; averment. -- Testimony, Proof,
Evidence. Proof is the most familiar, and is used more frequently (though not exclusively) of facts and things which occur in the
ordinary concerns of life. Evidence is a word of more dignity, and is more generally applied to that which is
moral or intellectual; as, the evidences of Christianity, etc. Testimony is what is deposed to by a witness on oath or affirmation. When used
figuratively or in a wider sense, the word testimony has still a reference to some living agent as its
author, as when we speak
of the testimony of conscience, or of doing a thing in testimony of our affection, etc. Testimony refers rather
to the thing declared, evidence to its value or
effect. "To conform our language more to common use, we ought
to divide arguments into demonstrations, proofs, and probabilities; ba proofs,
meaning such arguments from experience as leave no room for doubt or opposition." Hume. "The evidence of sense is the first and
highest kind of evidence of which human nature is capable." Bp. Wilkins. "The proof of everything must be by the testimony of such as the parties produce."
Spenser.
Hear it pronounced