testify
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word testify. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word testify, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say testify in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word testify you have here. The definition of the word testify will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oftestify, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
| PIE word |
|---|
| *tréyes |
From Middle English testifien, borrowed from Old French testifier, from Latin testificārī, present active infinitive of testificor (“I bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”) + facere (“to make”). See -fy.
Pronunciation
Verb
testify (third-person singular simple present testifies, present participle testifying, simple past and past participle testified) (transitive, intransitive)
- To make a declaration, or give evidence, under oath.
- 2014 August 29, Ruzwana Bashir, “The untold story of how a culture of shame perpetuates abuse. I know, I was a victim”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC:
- It was only after a decade away from Skipton that I was finally able to garner the courage to return and testify against my abuser.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Numbers 35:30:
- One witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
- To make a statement based on personal knowledge or faith.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, John 3:11:
- We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
- 1733, Tho Allen, “Jesus Christ’s Sixth Royal Embassy; or Word to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia”, in The Christian’s Sure Guide to Eternal Glory: Or, Living Oracles Most Comfortable, Holy and Instructive of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, in His Royal Embassy to the Seven Churches of Asia, , London: Francis Jefferies , →OCLC, page 253:
- [T]he pleaſures of ſenſe have no reliſh vvhere thou [Jesus] irradiateſt and teſtifieſt vvith our conſcience, that vve are the children of God, and have done thy vvill ſincerely, […]
Conjugation
Conjugation of testify
| infinitive | (to) testify | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | testify | testified | |
| 2nd-person singular | testify, testifiest† | testified, testifiedst† | |
| 3rd-person singular | testifies, testifieth† | testified | |
| plural | testify | ||
| subjunctive | testify | testified | |
| imperative | testify | — | |
| participles | testifying | testified | |
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
to make a declaration, or give evidence, under oath
| |||||||
to make a statement based on personal knowledge or faith
|
See also
Further reading
- “testify”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “testify”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.