testify









testify


verb (used without object), tes·ti·fied, tes·ti·fy·ing.

  1. to bear witness; give or afford evidence.
  2. Law. to give testimony under oath or solemn affirmation, usually in court.
  3. to make solemn declaration.

verb (used with object), tes·ti·fied, tes·ti·fy·ing.

  1. to bear witness to; affirm as fact or truth; attest.
  2. to give or afford evidence of in any manner.
  3. Law. to state or declare under oath or affirmation, usually in court.
  4. to declare, profess, or acknowledge openly.

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

  1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to state (something) formally as a declaration of factI testify that I know nothing about him
  2. law to declare or give (evidence) under oath, esp in court
  3. (when intr, often foll by to) to be evidence (of); serve as witness (to)the money testified to his good faith
  4. (tr) to declare or acknowledge openly

v.late 14c., “to serve as evidence of,” from Latin testificari “bear witness,” from testis “witness” (see testament) + root of facere “to make” (see factitious). Biblical sense of “openly profess one’s faith and devotion” is attested from 1520s. Related: Testified; testifying.

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