Testimonies

1 definition found

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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