Teste

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Teste \Tes"te\, n. [So called fr. L. teste, abl. of testis a
     witness, because this was formerly the initial word in the
     clause.] (Law)
     (a) A witness.
     (b) The witnessing or concluding clause, duty attached; --
         said of a writ, deed, or the like. --Burrill.


         [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  TESTE, practice. The teste of a writ is the concluding clause, commencing 
  with the word witness, &c. 
       2. The act of congress of May 8, 1792, 1 Story's Laws U. S. 257, 
  directs that all writs and process issuing from the supreme or a circuit 
  court, shall bear teste of the chief justice of the supreme court, or if 
  that office be vacant, of the associate justice next in precedence; and that 
  all writs or process issuing from a district court, shall hear teste of the 
  judge of such court, or, if the said office be vacant, of the clerk thereof. 
  Vide Serg. Const. Law, Index, h.t.; 20 Vin. Ab. 262; Steph. Plead. 25.