a. and sb. Also 5 tesmoingnal; 5–6 testy-; 5 -mone-, 5–6 -mony-; 5 -ell, 5–7 -all(e. [a. OF. tesmoignal and testimonial, in phr. lettres tes(ti)moniaulx (13th c. in Godef., Compl.), ad. late L. testimōniālis, (litteræ) testimōniālēs credentials; f. OF. tesmoin, L. testimōni-um TESTIMONY: see -AL.]
A. adj. (now arch. or technical.) Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of testimony; serving as evidence; conducive to proof. Testimonial proof, proof by the testimony of a witness; parole evidence. (Quot. c. 1430 may belong to the sb.)
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 254. To have memory upon thy passioun, Testimonial of my redempcioun.
1570. Levins, Manip., 15/25. Testimoniall, testimonialis.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 111. Which argument how artificiall it is, being barely testimoniall, or how [etc.].
1646. Sir. T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. vii. 25. We become emancipated from testimoniall engagements.
1680. J. C., Vind. Oaths & Swearing (ed. 2), 6. An Oath in matters Testimonial and pertaining to Witness-bearing is the highest proof and confirmation that can be.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 69. Evidence which, though not properly testimonial, may … be called personal.
1883. Wharton’s Law Lex., Testimonial proof, parol evidence. Civ. Law.
† b. Letter testimonial, rarely testimonial letter (usually pl. letters testimonial(s): a letter testifying to the bona fides of the bearer; credentials; = B. 3. Obs.
[1421. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 158/1. Havynge lettres testimonyalx sufficeantz of on of those degrees of the Universite.] Ibid. (1425). 289/2. That the same Marchant … brynge Lettres Tesmoingnals … under seel … of Maieur. Ibid. (1439), V. 33/2. Who so … come without Letters Testimoniall of the Chifteyn.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxvii. § 10. Is it the bringing of testimoniall letters wherein so great obliquitie consisteth?
1678. W. Dillingham, Serm. Funeral Lady Alston, 26. St. Paul … hath recourse unto his own Conscience for his Letters Testimonial.
1751. Lavington, Enthus. Meth. & Papists, III. (1754), 134. She was furnished with Letters Testimonial to obtain Provisions on the Road.
B. sb. [Cf. obs. F. testimoniale sb. (Cotgr.).]
† 1. Verbal or documentary evidence; TESTIMONY sb. 1. Obs.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 251. Permenides, after the testimonialle of Boice,… laborede and founde the arte of logike.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. xxii. (S.T.S.), I. 222. Als Virginius … stude in testimoniall of his meritis and loving.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 35. Fowles being brought to the barre agayne, desyred that the testimonyall of theis dyers may not be used against him.
1707. (title) A Cry from the Desart, or Testimonials of Several Miraculous Things lately come to pass in the Cevennes.
† 2. Something serving as proof or evidence; a token, record, manifestation. Obs.
1495. in S. P. H. Statham, Dover Charters (1902), 278. Onlesse ye said … purcer shew under auctentik, sufficient, or evident testimonialle yt yer is founde sufficient … surete in othir places.
1549. Compl. Scot., xiv. 113. Annibal send to cartage thre muis of gold ryngis … for ane testimonial of his grit victorie.
a. 1647. Habington, Surv. Worc., in Worc. Hist. Soc. Proc., III. 436. Without Armes or Inscription, as a testimonialle of her priveleadge.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1746), XI. 126. When he required a testimonial of Peter’s affection.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 182. In this second part numerous Testimonials of the truth of this doctrine are given.
† 3. A written attestation by some authorized or responsible person or persons, testifying to the truth of something; an affidavit, acknowledgement; a certificate; spec. an official warrant; a passport (as given to vagrants, laborers, discharged soldiers or sailors, etc.); a diploma; a credential or other authenticating document. Obs.
1461. Paston Lett., II. 22. I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng.
1526. Tindale, Matt. v. 31. Hit ys sayd, whosoever put awaye his wyfe, let hym geve her a tesiymonyall of her devorcement.
1545. Aberdeen Regr. (1844), I. 223. Quhen ony strangear cumis with testimoniale, to cum and aduerteis the bailȝe that sic an strangear is at the port with testimoniale.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 143 b. After whan he had exhibited the testimoniall of his Ambassade, he procedeth.
1563. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 249. To direct out commissionis under the testimoniall of the greit seill.
1597–8. Act 39 Eliz., c. 17 § 2. Euery … wandring Soldyer or Marryner … shall … haue a Testymonyall vnder the Hand of some one Justice of the Peace.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 332. Giuing euery one of us a Testimoniall of his sentence, we were all chained one to another.
1698–9. Act 11 Will. III., c. 18 § 1. Such Vagabonds or Beggers … very frequently forge or counterfeite Passes Testimonialls or Characters.
1702. W. J., Bruyn’s Voy. Levant, v. 12. Nor brought along with them Testimonials of their being in Health.
1796. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 140. I will forward the testimonial of the death of Mrs. Mazzei.
a. 1806. C. J. Fox, Reign Jas. II. (1808), 119. The severity with which he had enforced the test, obtained him a testimonial from the Bishops of his affection to their Protestant Church.
† b. (? erron.) A will, testament. Obs. rare–1.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, 135. To dispossesse His children of his goodes & give her all By his last dying testimoniall.
4. A writing testifying to one’s qualifications and character, written usually by a present or former employer, or by some responsible person who is competent to judge; a letter of recommendation of a person or thing. (The current sense.)
In quots. 1571, 1727–41, = TESTIMONIUM 1.
1571. Act 13 Eliz., c. 12 § 4. None shalbe made Mynister … under thage of foure and twenty yeres, nor unles he fyrst bring to the Bisshop … a Testimoniall … of his honest lyfe [etc.].
1609. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1816), IV. 406/2. A sufficient testimoniall of the bischop of the dyocie … Testifeing and approveing the said pedagog to be godlie and of good religioun.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., Testimonial, a kind of certificate … required before holy orders are conferred.
1776. J. Adams, in Fam. Lett. (1876), 144. The testimonials in his favor I shall inclose to you.
1798. M. Cutler, in Life, etc. (1888), II. 7. We have full testimonials that Mr. Perkins is a young man of an unblemished character.
1836. Sir H. Taylor, Statesman, xxix. 220. He is to make small account of testimonials and recommendations, unless subjected to severe scrutiny and supported by proved facts.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., v. 216. Testimonials seem in theory an unexceptionable mode of obtaining information.
5. A gift presented to some one by a number of persons as an expression of appreciation or acknowledgement of services or merit, or of admiration, esteem, or respect.
1838. Ld. Cockburn, Jrnl., I. 211. The growth of the modern things called testimonials is very curious…. It has come of late to denote … a sort of homage always as a donation, and generally in a permanent form, to supposed public virtue.
1856. W. Collins, After Dark, ii. Prol. (1862), 148. The portrait was intended as a testimonial, ‘expressive … of the eminent services of Mr. Boxsious in promoting and securing the prosperity of the town.’
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xxxv. The late lamented O’Connell,… over whom a grateful country has raised such a magnificent testimonial.
6. attrib. and Comb., as testimonial craze, -writer; † testimonial-man, a person having a testimonial (sense 3) or passport.
1725. Lond. Gaz., No. 6396/4. Robert Mair, late of Liverpool, Testimonial-Man.
1895. Pall Mall G., 27 Sept., 1/3. The testimonial craze is becoming quite a nuisance, and is highly inconvenient to people of moderate means.
1905. Academy, 6 May, 489/1. A good many other professional and unprofessional testimonial-writers.
