English
testimony
Testimony comes from Latin testis ‘witness’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*trito-sth₂-o-sreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tristos‘witness’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CE*terstisreconstructed
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestis‘witness’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestimōnium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400testimonie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1611testimony
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*trito-sth₂-o-sreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tristos‘witness’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CE*terstisreconstructed
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestis‘witness’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestimōnium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400testimonie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1611testimony
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And whoſoeuer ſhall not receiue you, noꝛ heare you,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
state, post, system, stay, stand, rest, distance, assistant, stadium, assistance, instance, stood, stable, assist, establishment, instant, establish, stability, constitution, substance, consistent, distant, stem, insist, resist, static, destination, persistent, consist, stud, destiny, persist, prostitution, stool, extant, stale, stamina, stationary, prostitute, distal, 152 more
through Latin *terstis
contestant, attestation, 6 more
through Latin testis ‘witness’
contest, testament, attest, testicular, detest, testator, 15 more
Today it means
noun Statements made by a witness in court.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- / testimony