[ad. L. testimōnium: see prec. Cf. ONF. testimonie, OF. testi-, testemoine (11th c. in Godef.), learned forms from Latin; the inherited OF. word being tesmoigne, now témoin, whence also tésmoignie and tesmoignage, now témoignage: see TESTIMONAGE.]
1. Personal or documentary evidence or attestation in support of a fact or statement; hence, any form of evidence or proof.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 423. Hit hathe somme testimony and wittenesse. Ibid., V. 393.
1526. Tindale, John viii. 17. Itt ys also written in youre lawe, that the testimony of two men ys true.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 9. Plinie rehearseth the testimonie of Cornelius Nepos.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 121/2. None of the cleargie … comming from anie other place should be admitted, except he brought letters of testimonie with him.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xiv. 70. Where a mans Testimony is not to be credited, he is not bound to give it.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. 303. He shewed all the Testimony of his Gratitude that he was able.
1805. Foster, Ess., III. iii. 58. Determined by the testimony of facts.
1838. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xxxiii. (1866), II. 177. Testimony, in the strictest sense of the term, therefore, is the communication of an experience or the report of an observed phænomenon, made to those whose own experience or observation has not reached so far.
1843. R. R. Madden, United Irish., Ser. II. II. xvii. 367. The Battalion of Testimony … a set of hired spies, informers, and witnesses, kept in the pay of the [Dublin] Castle.
b. Any object or act serving as proof or evidence.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxix. § 2. [Offerings] are Testimonies of our affection towardes God.
1601. Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., II. xxvii. To smell of sweat, the testimony of labour.
† 2. A written certificate, a testimonial. Obs.
a. 1589. Jenkinson’s Voy. & Trav. (Hakl. Soc.), II. 375. When any man or woman dyeeth … they … put a testimony in his right hand, which the priest giueth him, to testifie vnto S. Nicholas that he dyed a Christian.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 252. They that goe by land in Italy, must bring a Testimonie of Health called Boletino, before they can passe or conuerse.
1657. J. Watts, Vind. Ch. Eng., 97. The Arch-Deacon, having before examined us in private, and seen our publike Testimonies, presented us all to the Bishop.
† 3. A sponsor. Obs. rare.
1547. Hooper, Answ. Bp. Winchester, E iij. The testimonijs of the infant to be Christeynid ar examynid in the be halfe of the chyld.
4. In Scriptural language (chiefly in O.T.). a. sing. The Mosaic law or decalogue as inscribed on the two tables of stone, as in the two tables of testimony (Ex. xxxi. 18); ark of (the) testimony = ark of the covenant, the chest containing the tables of the law and other sacred memorials; sometimes called simply the testimony; tabernacle or tent of (the) testimony, the tabernacle containing the ark with its contents.
[A literalism of translation, repr. Vulg. testimonium, LXX. τὸ μαρτύριον, rarely ἡ μαρτυρία, Heb. sing. Sēdūth, pl. Sēdwōth.]
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xxx. 6. The veyle, that hongith before the arke of testymonye. Ibid., xxxii. 15. Moyses … berynge in hoond two tablis of testymonye wrytun on eithir side.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Exod. xxv. 16. Thou shalt put in the Arke the Testimonie which I shal giue thee. Ibid., xxxii. 15. Moses … went downe from the mountaine with the Two Tables of the Testimonie [1539 wytnesse] in his hand. Ibid., Num. x. 11. The cloude was taken vp from the Tabernacle of the Testimonie [1539 of witnesse].
1611. Bible, Num. i. 50. Thou shalt appoint the Leuites ouer the Tabernacle of [R.V. the] Testimonie. Ibid., ix. 15. The Tabernacle, namely the Tent of the Testimony. Ibid., xvii. 4. Thou shalt lay them vp in the Tabernacle … before the Testimony. Ibid., Transl. Pref., 3. The forme [of Scripture being] Gods word, Gods testimonie, Gods oracles.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 251. Therein An Ark, and in the Ark his Testimony, The Records of his Cov’nant.
b. pl. The precepts (of God), the divine law. Rarely in sing.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xviii. [xix.] 7. The testimony of ye Lorde is true, & geueth wisdome euen vnto babes. Ibid., cxviii. [cxix.] 88. So shall I kepe the testimonies of thy mouth.
1560. Bible (Genev.), 2 Kings xxiii. 3. That they shulde walke after the Lord, and kepe his commandements, and his testimonies, and his statutes.
1611. Bible, Deut. vi. 17. You shall diligently keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God, and his Testimonies, and his Statutes.
5. Open attestation or acknowledgement; confession, profession. Obs. or arch.
To seal one’s testimony with one’s blood, to die as a martyr for one’s religious profession.
1550. (title) The Image of both Chuvches…. Compyled by Iohn Bale an exyle also in this lyfe, for the faithfull testimony of Iesu.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Rev. i. 9. I … was in … Patmos, for the word of God and the testimonie of Iesvs.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lx. § 5. To seale the testimonie thereof with death.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 33. Thou … for the testimonie of Truth hast born Universal reproach.
1687. A. Shields (title), A Hind let loose; or an Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers, v. (1722), 226. The two first [Quakers in New England] that sealed their Testimony with their Blood were William Robinson … and Marmaduke Stevenson.
b. spec. An expression or declaration of disapproval or condemnation of error; a protestation.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Mark vi. 11. Shake of the dust from your feete for a testimonie to them.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., ix. Mony an afternoon he wad sit and take up his testimony again the Paip.
1850. Whittier, Old Portr., T. Ellwood, Wks. 1889, VI. 38. Plain, earnest men and women … having withal a strong testimony to bear against carnal wit and outside show and ornament.
1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s L., xxxix. Alice Rose was not one to tolerate the coarse, careless talk … without uplifting her voice in many a testimony against it.
1876. C. M. Davies, Unorth. Lond., 90. A ‘testimony’ was … circulated some years ago to the bishops and clergy of the Church of England.
