different between testify vs testimony

English

Etymology

From Middle English testifien, borrowed from Old French testifier, from Latin testific?r?, present active infinitive of testificor (“I bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”) + facere (“to make”). See -fy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?st?fa?/
• Hyphenation: tes?ti?fy
• Rhymes: -a?

Verb

testify (third-person singular simple present testifies, present participle testifying, simple past and past participle testified) (transitive, intransitive)

1. To make a declaration, or give evidence, under oath.
   • 2014, Ruzwana Bashir, "The untold story of how a culture of shame perpetuates abuse. I know, I was a victim", The Guardian, 29 August 2014:

     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.

   • One witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

2. To make a statement based on personal knowledge or faith.

   • We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Synonyms

• bear witness

Related terms

• attest
• testimony
• testimonial

Translations

See also

• compel testimony

Further reading

• testify in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• testify in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Alternative forms

• testimonie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin testim?nium (“testimony”), from testis (“a witness”). See test.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?t?st?mo?ni/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?t?st?m?ni/

Noun

testimony (countable and uncountable, plural testimonies)

1. (law) Statements made by a witness in court.
2. An account of first-hand experience.
3. (religion) In a church service (or religious service), a personal account, such as one's conversion, testimony of faith, or life testimony.
4. Witness; evidence; proof of some fact.

   • When ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.

Synonyms

• (law) deposition

Derived terms

• compel testimony
• testimonial

Related terms

• test
• testify

Translations

Further reading

• testimony in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• testimony in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.