testify

American  

[tes-tuh-fahy] / ˈtɛs təˌfaɪ /

verb (used without object)

testified, testifying

1. to bear witness; give or afford evidence.

2. Law. to give testimony under oath or solemn affirmation, usually in court.

3. to make solemn declaration.

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verb (used with object)

testified, testifying

1. to bear witness to; affirm as fact or truth; attest.

2. to give or afford evidence of in any manner.

   Synonyms:

   prove, signify, show, indicate

3. Law. to state or declare under oath or affirmation, usually in court.

4. to declare, profess, or acknowledge openly.

testify British  

/ ˈtɛstɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. (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

2. law to declare or give (evidence) under oath, esp in court

3. to be evidence (of); serve as witness (to)

   the money testified to his good faith

4. (tr) to declare or acknowledge openly

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Other Word Forms

• pretestify verb (used with object)
• retestify verb
• testification noun
• testifier noun
• untestifying adjective

Etymology

Origin of testify

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

Related Words

• announce
• argue
• assert
• declare
• depose
• indicate
• swear