[L., f. testi-s a witness + -mōnium: see -MONY.]
1. A letter of recommendation given to a candidate for holy orders testifying to his piety and learning; also, a certificate of proficiency given by a university, college, professor, etc.: = TESTAMUR.
1692. Swift, in Earl Orrery, Remarks (1752), 11. I am still to thank you for your care in my Testimonium.
1705. Hearne, Collect., 21 Aug. (O.H.S.), I. 32. Dr. Mill sent to me a Testimonium to be sign’d for Cyprian & Paul Appia, Vaudois, that they may be admitted into H. Orders.
1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., No. 13. (1754), 66. Punishing under-graduates, or disposing of fellowships, degrees, and testimoniums.
1799. C. Winter, in Jay, Mem. & Lett. (1843), 49. Mr. Whitefield desired me to procure him a testimonium of myself from different places whither I had gone.
1903. Times, 24 Oct., 10/1. In 1860, a year after he became B.A., he obtained his testimonium in the divinity school.
2. Law. That concluding part of a document, usually commencing with the words ‘In witness whereof,’ which states the manner of its execution; also testimonium clause. Cf. TESTATUS, TESTE2.
1852. Act 15 & 16 Vict., c. 24 § 1. The words of the testimonium clause or of the clause of attestation.
1905. Law Soc. Gaz., Dec. 16. Blanks had been left in the testimonium for the day and the month.
