Testify
To give evidence as a witness in a court of law
Language Origin
Latin
Entered English
14thth century
The Story Behind the Word
Testify comes from the Latin testificari, built from testis (witness) + facere (to make, to do). A witness literally "makes" their testimony.
But the root testis has a fascinating double meaning: it also means "testicle." In ancient Rome, men would place their hand on their genitals when swearing an oath — a gesture indicating they were putting their virility (and future descendants) on the line as a guarantee of their truthfulness. This is also the origin of testament and attest.
The same root gives us testimony, intestate (dying without a will), and the medical term testes.
Example in Context
"The eyewitness was called to testify about what she saw on the night of the crime."
Did You Know?
Latin *testis* meant both "witness" and "testicle." The oath-taking gesture of touching one's genitals in ancient Rome may be the origin of the English word "testimony."
