testimony

tes·ti·mo·ny

noun \ˈtes-tə-ˌmō-nē\

plural tes·ti·mo·nies

Definition of TESTIMONY

1

a (1) : the tablets inscribed with the Mosaic law (2) : the ark containing the tablets b : a divine decree attested in the Scriptures

2

a : firsthand authentication of a fact : evidence b : an outward sign c : a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official

3

a : an open acknowledgment b : a public profession of religious experience

Examples of TESTIMONY

1. The jury heard 10 days of testimony.
2. There were contradictions in her testimony.
3. the personal testimonies of survivors of the war
4. It is testimony to her courage and persistence that she worked for so long in the face of such adversity.
5. The popularity of diet fads is a testimony to the fact that people want a quick fix for their health and weight problems.

Origin of TESTIMONY

Middle English testimonie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin testimonium Decalogue, from Latin, evidence, witness, from testis witness — more at testament

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TESTIMONY

Synonyms: attestation, confirmation, corroboration, documentation, evidence, substantiation, testament, testimonial, proof, validation, voucher, witness

Antonyms: disproof

Related Words: (the) goods; certificate, document, exhibit; demonstration, illustration; authentication, identification, manifestation, verification

Near Antonyms: rebuttal, refutation; accusation, allegation, charge; assumption, conjecture, guess, presumption, surmise, suspicion

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Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with TESTIMONY

abalone, acrimony, agrimony, Albinoni, alimony, antimony, Berlusconi, cannelloni, ceremony, chalcedony, cicerone, hegemony, macaroni, matrimony, minestrone, Nakasone, one-trick pony, palimony, parsimony, patrimony, pepperoni, provolone, rigatoni, sanctimony, Shetland pony, zabaglione