testify

[ tes-tuh-fahy ]
/ ˈtɛs təˌfaɪ /

verb (used without object), tes·ti·fied, tes·ti·fy·ing.

to bear witness; give or afford evidence.
Law. to give testimony under oath or solemn affirmation, usually in court.
to make solemn declaration.

verb (used with object), tes·ti·fied, tes·ti·fy·ing.

Origin of testify

1350–1400; Middle English testifyen < Latin testificārī to bear witness, equivalent to testi(s) witness + -ficārī -fy

OTHER WORDS FROM testify

tes·ti·fi·er, noun pre·tes·ti·fy, verb (used with object), pre·tes·ti·fied, pre·tes·ti·fy·ing. re·tes·ti·fy, verb, re·tes·ti·fied, re·tes·ti·fy·ing. un·tes·ti·fy·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for testify

British Dictionary definitions for testify

testify
/ (ˈtɛstɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

(when tr, may take a clause as object) to state (something) formally as a declaration of fact I testify that I know nothing about him
law to declare or give (evidence) under oath, esp in court
(when intr, often foll by to) to be evidence (of); serve as witness (to) the money testified to his good faith
(tr) to declare or acknowledge openly

Derived forms of testify

testification, noun testifier, noun

Word Origin for testify

C14: from Latin testificārī, from testis witness