testify

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

tes·ti·fy /ˈtestɪfaɪ/ verb (testified, testifying, testifies) 1 [intransitive, transitive]SCL to make a formal statement of what is true, especially in a court of law 〔尤指在法庭上〕作证 Mr Molto has agreed to testify at the trial. 莫尔托先生已经同意出庭作证。testify against Later, the witness who had testified against Muawad withdrew his allegation. 后来，举证指控穆瓦瓦德的那位证人撤回了证词。2 [intransitive, transitive] written to show clearly that something is the case 证明，证实testify to The empty shops in the high street testify to the depth of the recession. 大街上空无一人的商店说明了经济萧条的严重程度。testify that The full ashtrays testify that smoking hasn’t been stubbed out. 烟灰装得满满的烟灰缸说明烟并未戒掉。 Can you testify that you saw the defendant at the scene of the crime? 你能作证你看到被告在犯罪现场吗？3. [intransitive] American EnglishRRC to stand up and tell people about how God has helped you in your life 作见证〔指基督徒向人们诉说上帝的恩典〕 SYN witness→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

testify• Police had to guard him in hospital until he was well enough to testify.• Crowing begins at or just before the crack of dawn -- as my neighbours will testify.• Charges against Louima were later dropped, and he testified about his ordeal in three criminal trials.• The witness who had testified against him withdrew her allegation.• I'm prepared to testify in court that I was in Carolyn's apartment that night.• Anyone who knew him will gladly testify that he was a disaster behind a steering wheel.• Years later her parents made a sworn statement testifying that the couple had met in July 1917.• Even the houses now testify to this.testify that• Witnesses testified that Estrada kept multi-million-dollar bank accounts under false names and had profited from insider-trading.• In both trials, Erik testified that he killed out of fear.• Each of them will testify that in his opinion death in each instance was caused by gunshot wounds in the head.• She also testified that Irvin had terrorized her in an effort to make her recant her testimony against him.• Mrs. Morgan testified that she had been dragged by her husband from the bedroom which she shared with her small son.• Paul Ginsberg, an audiotape expert hired by Rosen, testified that the tape actually was made in four segments.• Other female officers have testified that they also suffered harassment in the department.• Several neighbors testified that they heard a strange noise that night.Origin testify (1300-1400) Latin testificari, from testis “witness”

tes·ti·fy verbChineseSyllable

statement Corpus a make of to formal

testify
tes‧ti‧fy /ˈtestəfaɪ, ˈtestɪfaɪ/

verb (past tense and past participle testified, present participle testifying, third person singular testifies)

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Latin
Origin: testificari, from testis 'witness'

1. [intransitive and transitive] to make a formal statement of what is true, especially in a court of law:

Mr Molto has agreed to testify at the trial.
testify against

Later, the witness who had testified against Muawad withdrew his allegation.
2. [intransitive and transitive] written to show clearly that something is the case
testify to

The empty shops in the high street testify to the depth of the recession.
testify that

The full ashtrays testify that smoking hasn’t been stubbed out.

Can you testify that you saw the defendant at the scene of the crime?
3. [intransitive] American English to stand up and tell people about how God has helped you in your life
SYN witness

test·ify

BrE

/ˈtestɪfaɪ/

🔊

NAmE

/ˈtestɪfaɪ/

🔊

verb

present simple - I / you / we / they

testify

BrE

/ˈtestɪfaɪ/