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.
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.
Tes"ti*mo*ny (?), v. t. To witness; to
attest; to prove by testimony. [Obs.] Shak.