| 释义 |
testimonial, a. and n.|tɛstɪˈməʊnɪəl|
Also 5 tesmoingnal; 5–6 testy-; 5 -mone-, 5–6 -mony-; 5 -ell, 5–7 -all(e.
[a. OF. tesmoignal and testimonial, in phr. lettres tes(ti)moniaulx (13th c. in Godef. Compl.), ad. late L. testimōniālis, (litteræ) testimōniālēs credentials; f. OF. tesmoin, L. testimōni-um testimony: see -al1]
A. adj.
a. (now arch. or technical.) Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of testimony; serving as evidence; conducive to proof. testimonial proof, proof by the testimony of a witness; parole evidence. (Quot. c 1430 may belong to the n.)
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 254 To have memory upon thy passioun, Testimonial of my redempcioun. 1570Levins Manip. 15/25 Testimoniall, testimonialis. 1588J. Harvey Disc. Probl. 111 Which argument how artificiall it is, being barely testimoniall, or how [etc.]. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. vii. 25 We become emancipated from testimoniall engagements. 1680J. C. Vind. Oaths & Swearing (ed. 2) 6 An Oath in matters Testimonial and pertaining to Witness-bearing is the highest proof and confirmation that can be. 1802–12Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) I. 69 Evidence which, though not properly testimonial, may..be called personal. 1883Wharton's Law Lex., Testimonial proof, parol evidence. Civ. Law.
†b. letter testimonial, rarely testimonial letter (usually pl. letters testimonial(s): a letter testifying to the bona fides of the bearer; credentials; = B. 3. Obs.
[1421Rolls of Parlt. IV. 158/1 Havynge lettres testimonyalx sufficeantz of on of those degrees of the Universite.] 1425Ibid. 289/2 That the same Marchant..brynge Lettres Tesmoingnals..under seel..of Maieur. 1439Ibid. V. 33/2 Who so..come without Letters Testimoniall of the Chifteyn. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxvii. §10 Is it the bringing of testimoniall letters wherein so great obliquitie consisteth? 1678W. Dillingham Serm. Funeral Lady Alston 26 St. Paul..hath recourse unto his own Conscience for his Letters Testimonial. 1751G. Lavington Enthus. Meth. & Papists iii. (1754) 134 She was furnished with Letters Testimonial to obtain Provisions on the Road.
B. n. [Cf. obs. F. testimoniale n. (Cotgr.).]
†1. Verbal or documentary evidence; = testimony n. 1. Obs.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 251 Permenides, after the testimonialle of Boice,..laborede and founde the arte of logike. 1533Bellenden Livy ii. xxii. (S.T.S.) I. 222 Als Virginius..stude in testimoniall of his meritis and loving. 1621H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 35 Fowles being brought to the barre agayne, desyred that the testimonyall of theis dyers may not be used against him. 1707(title) A Cry from the Desart, or Testimonials of Several Miraculous Things lately come to pass in the Cevennes.
†2. Something serving as proof or evidence; a token, record, manifestation. Obs.
1495in S. P. H. Statham Dover Charters (1902) 278 Onlesse.. y⊇ said..purcer shew under auctentik, sufficient, or evident testimonialle yt yer is founde sufficient..surete in othir places. 1549Compl. Scot. xiv. 113 Annibal send to cartage thre muis of gold ryngis..for ane testimonial of his grit victorie. a1647Habington Surv. Worc. in Worc. Hist. Soc. Proc. III. 436 Without Armes or Inscription, as a testimonialle of her priveleadge. a1716South Serm. (1744) XI. 126 When he required a testimonial of Peter's affection. 1803Med. Jrnl. IX. 182 In this second part numerous testimonials of the truth of this doctrine are given.
†3.
a. A written attestation by some authorized or responsible person or persons, testifying to the truth of something; an affidavit, acknowledgement; a certificate; spec. an official warrant; a passport (as given to vagrants, labourers, discharged soldiers or sailors, etc.); a diploma; a credential or other authenticating document. Obs.
1461Paston Lett. II. 22, I sent to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. 1526Tindale Matt. v. 31 Hit ys sayd, whosoever put awaye his wyfe, let hym geve her a testymonyall of her devorcement. 1545Aberdeen Regr. (1844) I. 223 Quhen ony strangear cumis with testimoniale, to cum and aduerteis the bailȝe that sic an strangear is at the port with testimoniale. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 143 b, After whan he had exhibited the testimoniall of his Ambassade, he procedeth. 1563Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 249 To direct out commissionis under the testimoniall of the greit seill. 1597–8Act 39 Eliz. c. 17 §2 Euery..wandring Soldyer or Marryner..shall..haue a Testymonyall vnder the Hand of some one Justice of the Peace. 1622Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. 332 Giuing euery one of vs a Testimoniall of his sentence, wee were all chained one to another. 1698–9Act 11 Will. III, c. 18 §1 Such Vagabonds or Beggers..very frequently forge or counterfeite Passes Testimonialls or Characters. 1702W. J. Bruyn's Voy. Levant v. 12 Nor brought along with them Testimonials of their being in Health. 1796Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 140, I will forward the testimonial of the death of Mrs. Mazzei. a1806C. J. Fox Reign Jas. II (1808) 119 The severity with which he had enforced the test, obtained him a testimonial from the Bishops of his affection to their Protestant Church.
†b. (? erron.) A will, testament. Obs. rare—1.
1616R. C. Times' Whistle 135 To dispossesse His children of his goodes & give her all By his last dying testimoniall.
4. A writing testifying to one's qualifications and character, written usually by a present or former employer, or by some responsible person who is competent to judge; a letter of recommendation of a person or thing. (The current sense.)
In quots. 1571, 1727–41, = testimonium 1.
1571Act 13 Eliz. c. 12 §4 None shalbe made Mynister..under thage of foure and twenty yeres, nor unles he fyrst bring to the Bisshop..a Testimoniall..of his honest lyfe [etc.]. 1609Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1816) IV. 406/2 A sufficient testimoniall of the bischop of the dyocie..Testifeing and approveing the said pedagog to be godlie and of good religioun. 1727–41Chambers Cycl., Testimonial, a kind of certificate..required before holy orders are conferred. 1776J. Adams in Fam. Lett. (1876) 144 The testimonials in his favor I shall inclose to you. 1798M. Cutler in Life, etc. (1888) II. 7 We have full testimonials that Mr. Perkins is a young man of an unblemished character. 1836Sir H. Taylor Statesman xxix. 220 He is to make small account of testimonials and recommendations, unless subjected to severe scrutiny and supported by proved facts. 1868M. Pattison Academ. Org. v. 216 Testimonials seem in theory an unexceptionable mode of obtaining information.
5. A gift presented to some one by a number of persons as an expression of appreciation or acknowledgement of services or merit, or of admiration, esteem, or respect.
1838Ld. Cockburn Jrnl. I. 211 The growth of the modern things called testimonials is very curious... It has come of late to denote..a sort of homage always as a donation, and generally in a permanent form, to supposed public virtue. 1856W. Collins After Dark ii. Prol. (1862) 148 The portrait was intended as a testimonial, ‘expressive..of the eminent services of Mr. Boxsious in promoting and securing the prosperity of the town’. 1859Thackeray Virgin. xxxv, The late lamented O'Connell,..over whom a grateful country has raised such a magnificent testimonial.
6. attrib. and Comb., as testimonial craze, testimonial-writer; (sense 5) = serving as a testimonial or token of esteem, esp. in testimonial dinner, testimonial game, testimonial match. † testimonial-man, a person having a testimonial (sense 3) or passport.
1725Lond. Gaz. No. 6396/4 Robert Mair, late of Liverpool, Testimonial-Man. 1851‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (ed. 5) 94 On the 26th July, 1847, the Committee at Lord's got up a testimonial match between Kent and England [for Mynn's benefit]. 1895Pall Mall G. 27 Sept. 1/3 The testimonial craze is becoming quite a nuisance, and is highly inconvenient to people of moderate means. 1895Funk's Stand. Dict. s.v., A testimonial certificate, benefit, or banquet. 1905Academy 6 May 489/1 A good many other professional and unprofessional testimonial-writers. 1931Daily Express 21 Sept. 11/5 A testimonial dinner was given to..the millionaire American capitalist. 1972G. Green Great Moments in Sport: Soccer iii. 46 The Russians went to the unusual lengths of giving him [Yashin] a testimonial match at Lenin Stadium. 1977in Fremdsprachen XXIII. (1979) 209/1 The long-serving defender, who collected {pstlg}35,000 from a testimonial game on Friday, was due to retire. 1979Tucson (Arizona) Citizen (Weekender Mag.) 28 Apr. 18/1 Sol Stein..was decorating a dais with his presence at a testimonial dinner for a minor television personality. |