From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Testimony \Tes"ti*mo*ny\, n.; pl. {Testimonies}. [L.
testimonium, from testis a witness: cf. OF. testimoine,
testemoine, testimonie. See {Testify}.]
1. A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose
of establishing or proving some fact.
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Note: Such declaration, in judicial proceedings, may be
verbal or written, but must be under oath or
affirmation.
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2. Affirmation; declaration; as, these doctrines are
supported by the uniform testimony of the fathers; the
belief of past facts must depend on the evidence of human
testimony, or the testimony of historians.
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3. Open attestation; profession.
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[Thou] for the testimony of truth, hast borne
Universal reproach. --Milton.
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4. Witness; evidence; proof of some fact.
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When ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your
feet for a testimony against them. --Mark vi. 11.
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5. (Jewish Antiq.) The two tables of the law.
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Thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I
shall give thee. --Ex. xxv. 16.
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6. Hence, the whole divine revelation; the sacre? Scriptures.
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The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple. --Ps. xix. 7.
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Syn: Proof; evidence; attestation; witness; affirmation;
confirmation; averment.
Usage: {Testimony}, {Proof}, {Evidence}. Proof is the most
familiar, and is used more frequently (though not
exclusively) of facts and things which occur in the
ordinary concerns of life. Evidence is a word of more
dignity, and is more generally applied to that which
is moral or intellectual; as, the evidences of
Christianity, etc. Testimony is what is deposed to by
a witness on oath or affirmation. When used
figuratively or in a wider sense, the word testimony
has still a reference to some living agent as its
author, as when we speak of the testimony of
conscience, or of doing a thing in testimony of our
affection, etc. Testimony refers rather to the thing
declared, evidence to its value or effect. "To conform
our language more to common use, we ought to divide
arguments into demonstrations, proofs, and
probabilities; ba proofs, meaning such arguments from
experience as leave no room for doubt or opposition."
--Hume. "The evidence of sense is the first and
highest kind of evidence of which human nature is
capable." --Bp. Wilkins. "The proof of everything must
be by the testimony of such as the parties produce."
--Spenser.
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