Other forms: testimonies
Testimony is what a witness formally tells the court under oath. Give testimony, sworn testimony, her testimony was accepted.
It is evidence given by a person speaking, as against documents and physical exhibits, and it is the kind most often mistaken in good faith — memory is reconstructive, and confident testimony is not reliable testimony. Figuratively, a testimony to something is proof of it. Note testify; and that the Latin is from testis, a witness.
1nountestimonyWhat a witness formally tells the court under oath.
“Her testimony at the trial helped to convict the driver who had caused the crash.”
2nounevidenceEvidence or proof of something.
“The long queues outside are testimony to the restaurant's popularity.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
testimony is evidence given in words.
Latin testimonium comes from testis, a witness. Testify, attest and protest come from the same witnessing.
Proto-Indo-European
*tréyes
Latin
testimōnium — testimony
Old French
testimonie
Middle English
testimonie
English, today
testimony
Middle English testimonie, from Old French testimonie, from Latin testimōnium (“testimony”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA