testificor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [tɛsˈtɪ.fɪ.kɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tesˈtiː.fi.kor]^[1]

Forms

testificor (present infinitive testificārī, perfect active testificātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^[1]

Etymology

It is from testis “witness” and faciō “to make”, through ⟨-ficus⟩, with -or.^[2][3][4] De Vaan explains ⟨testis⟩ from ⟨*tri-sth₂-i-⟩ “standing by as third”, cognate with Oscan ⟨trstus⟩ “witnesses”.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Cicero, “to testify”.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bear witness, give evidence, attest, testify solemnly, especially frequent in Cicero, and in Ovid to call to witness, invoke.^[2][3][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to testify, bear witness, attest, charge, bring to light.^[7] English testify (late 14th century) is from its family through Anglo-French.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][6]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of invoking a witness.^[2][6]
• late 14th century – English testify is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Verb

1. To testify, bear witness, attest.^[2][3]
2. To call to witness.^[2]

Related words

• testātiō
• testātus
• testificātiō
• testimōnium
• testis
• testor
• English testify

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com