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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Testify(e, -i(e, -é, v. Also: testyfy, -é, testefy(e, -(i)e, testiefie, -é, testafei. [ME and e.m.E. testifie, testefie, testifye (all Piers Plowman), testyfy (Lydgate), F. testifier, late or med. L. testificare.] tr.

1. To bear witness to the truth of (something); to confirm, under, or as under, oath; to affirm or assert (a fact, etc.). Also absol.Also const. clause object. 1431 Liber Melros II 522.
I was requerit … for to testifi in to writ the thingis determynde 1513 Doug. ii vii 124.
O ȝe cald assys of Troy … heir I Drawis ȝow to witnes, and doys testyfy, … I nowder sparit wapynnys [etc.] 1549 Compl. 8/21.
Al his subiectis … var oblist … to bring euery ȝeir ther namis, in vrit, to the prouest of the prouince quhar ther remanyng vas, ande ther to testife the stait of ther vacatione, ande the maneir of ther lyuing 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 157/32.
The apostle Sanct Paull in diuers places testifeis that Jesus Christ oure salueour sufferit anis for vs 1567 G. Ball. 8.
Lat ȝour talk be nay and ȝe, Except ane juge do ȝow constraine, To testifie the veritie a1578 Pitsc. II 41/10.
The governour … testiefieit that he had sen thame subscrywit witht Inglischemens bloode 1593 Acts IV 43/1.
Testifeing … that insafer as thevis … ar sa multipleit … that thay spair not to [etc.] 1596 Highland P. I 192.
Swa nowe … for releif of my awin concience … dois testefie be my greit aithe and handwreit and vpone the parrell of my salvatioune, all thir premissis to be of trewthe 1602 Conv. Burghs II 144.
Gif the skipper … will testefe … that thair was ane buy vpoun the anker the last tyme it was lattin fall 1624 Perth Kirk S. MS 17 Oct.
This buik of the actis of the sessioun … wreittin be me … notar of the same sessioun quhilk I testifie be this my subscriptioun manuale 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 21.
Subscribit as follows … Colleine Stewart consents as testifies Donald M^cGilchrist notar 1678 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. VI 627.
We … do testifie that we wer all present at and did see and wer ey witnesses to [etc.]absol. 1557 Inverness Rec. I 6.
To bring with hyme hys nechbouris to testife 1584 Waus Corr. 296.
Vsing his wocatioun justlie and honestlie as … syndrie otherris will testefye

2. Of writings, records, etc.: To contain, supply or serve as a source of evidence; to confirm or prove in this manner. 1549 Lamb Resonyng 149/14.
Quhat can ȝow say aganis ȝour awin Perliament, testefeit be ȝour awin selis and writtingis? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2420.
As the scripture, … doith testifye 1568 Buch. Indict. 35.
George Dalgleis … confessit … that this … wes … trew as his depositioun can testifie 1580 Exch. R. XXI 548.
[A] compt … quhilk testiefeis onlie sa meikle to haif bene furnesit to hir hous 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well Sig. A 2.
Medicinall and philosophicall doctrine testifeis be experience … mony disesis … hes bene cuirit be the … vse of bathis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 260.
Quhidder he did this upoun ane plaine intentioun to denude himselff, or upoun plaine hypocrisie, his consequent warkis shall testifie heireftir 1604 Dundee Shipping P. 79.
He his not onllie addettit to me bot is falss in his speitchis, as the acowntis and thir honnest men hand wret dois testafei 1639 Sc. Lore 164.
Thair wes waist of the mail lands … as the rentall will testifie for the foirsaid crope

b. To make such a confirmation by means of a testimoniall (Testimonial(l) or testificat Testificat n.). 1628 Justiciary Cases I 96.
He … devyset … ane fals testimoniall … testifeing the said Andro Jonstoun to be ane honest puir man 1635 S. Ronaldshay 20.
The maisters of the New College had presented Mr. Edwarde Richardson to the Kirk of Forteviot, as also testifying his literature and conversation

c. impers. 1580 Misc. Spald. C. IV 69.
That ye … rendir … the house of Reidcastell … together with the haill plenising … be inuentour thairof subscryuit with your hand to the ende it may thairby be testifeit quhat and howmekill [etc.]

3. Of things: To constitute evidence or proof of. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 772.
Ȝe bene all Degenerit … As testyfeis the proces of ȝour lyuis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 178/24.
The outwarte cerimoniis testifeis the inwarte fervour and devotioun 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 14.
Gif the charbunkil apperis … in ony other part … testifeis strenthe of nature helth 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
It is not the deliuerance of the quene that thai seik as thair doingis contrair to thair word testifiis a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 59/127.
Trowble heir dois testifie our syne a1578 Pitsc. I 63/13.
Schir Thomas Randall … quhois warkes can testiefie his lyfe c1590 Fowler II 21/26.
How hard … a thing it is … the … horribill murders thair committit wil testifie, & ma ages than this wil beir record

b. Of a person in respect of his actions. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 255.
Whosoever either forgets or casteth off this exercise, they testifie their wealth to be evil purchased a1651 Calderwood VII 538.
The toun-clerk … testified his miscontentment by a creinge of his shoulders

4. To proclaim, announce, make known (an opinion, the truth, etc.). 1513 Doug. ii iii 21.
O ȝhe, quod he, euerlestand lampis brycht, And ȝour dyvyne power … That aucht not beyn forsworn, I testefy 1513 Doug. xii viii 121.
Mony tymys lowd did he testify … quhou that sa wrangwisly He was iniurit 1562-3 Winȝet I 17/15, 19.
God testifiis thair power geuin to sick be His worde … as he testifiit of St. Johne Baptist, be the prophetis Malachias [etc.] 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 399.
To testifie his treuth, to walkin thame out of thair ignorance 1608 Highland P. III 114.
And sall testefe ȝour majesteis wisdome … to exceid [etc.] 1673 Cramond Kirk S. II 15 June.
Thomas Forrest … accepted … the place offered to him, and testifyed his acceptance thereof befor them

5. To witness, observe (a situation, etc.). 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 178 (G).
Oure eyne dowes our larglie hawe occasione to testifye thair vnbrydlit deformatione

6. To assure or inform (a person) of a fact. 1622 Aberd. Council Lett. I 201.
I … charges yow … to geve your oath … and declare [etc.] … testefeing yow if that yow failȝe yow shalbe holden as confest to have [etc.]