Testimonies

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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