testificatio

Pronunciation

• Classical: [tɛs.tɪ.fɪˈkaː.ti.oː]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [tes.ti.fiˈkat.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

testificātiō f (genitive testificātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin testificor (“to bear witness”) + -tiō.^[2][1] testificor is formed from testis (“witness”) and faciō (“to make”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first author is Cicero,^[3] who in the Verrines uses it of testimony given in court: si eius rei testificatio tolleretur, “if the testimony to that fact were removed”.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short call it Ciceronian, while the jurists and Quintilian say testatio instead.^[4] Besides attesting a fact in court, Cicero uses it of showing something by an action: in a letter saying that someone pleaded his correspondent's case with full acknowledgement of his services, and in the Philippics of honours that would be an everlasting proof that Antony had rejected the embassy.^[2][4][6]

In medieval Latin it meant attestation and testimony, an oath and, after Exodus, the covenant placed in the ark.^[7] Niermeyer also gives “invocation”.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of testimony and of proof by an action.^[2][4][3]
• early 8th century – Bede uses it of the covenant placed in the ark.^[7][3]
• ca. 763–766 – Willibald uses it of the testimony of martyrdom.^[7][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The attesting or solemn affirming of a fact, especially in court; testimony.^[2][4]
2. Proof or demonstration of a fact by some action.^[2][4]
3. (Medieval Latin) An oath; a covenant.^[7]
4. (Medieval Latin) An invocation.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill