Obs. exc. dial. Also 6–7 teste. [In sense 1, app. ad. L. test-is witness. In senses 2 and 3, perh. aphetic for atest, ATTEST sb.]
† 1. A witness. Cf. TESTIS1. Obs. rare.
1528. Roy Rede me, II. (Arb.), 109. To prove it shall nede no testes.
1614. W. B., Philosopher’s Banquet (ed. 2), 197. The faithful teste or witnesse.
a. 1626. Bp. Andrewes, Serm., Holy Ghost (1661), 488. A Witnesse is requisite. There is no matter of weight with us, if it be sped authentically … but it is with a Teste. (Quot. 1528 may belong to TESTIS1.)
† 2. Evidence, witness borne. Cf. ATTEST sb. 1.
[c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 253. All this trety has he tald be termess in test.]
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 107. To vouch this, is no proofe, Without more wider, and more ouer Test. [Cf. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 122. That test [Qo. th’ attest] of eyes and eares.]
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., ii. (1736), 21. The lasting Tests of old Boundaries.
† 3. = TESTE2. Cf. ATTEST sb. 2. Obs.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxvi. 277. In the term next after the test of the said writ.
1752. J. Louthian, Form of Process (ed. 2), 174. The Court shall issue another Writ … of the same Test, Return and Import with the former.
4. A will: = TESTAMENT sb. 1. Sc.
1890. J. Service, Thir Notandums, iii. 13. By ane eik to his test, he left to Peter Scartle the soom of five shillings.
