Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TEST'I-FY-ING, ppr.

Affirming solemnly or under oath, for the purpose of establishing a fact; giving testimony; bearing witness; declaring.

TEST'I-LY, adv. [from testy.]

Fretfully; peevishly; with petulance.

TEST'I-LY, adv.

Fretfully; peevishly.

TEST'I-MO-NI-AL, n. [Fr. from L. testimonium.]

A writing or certificate in favor of one's character or good conduct. Testimonials are required on many occasions. A person must have testimonials of his learning and good conduct, before he can obtain license to preach. Testimonials are to be signed by persons of known respectability of character.

TEST-I-MON'IC-AL, a.

Relating to testimony.

TEST'I-MO-NY, n. [L. testimonium.]

1. A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. Such affirmation in judicial proceedings, may be verbal or written, but must be under oath. Testimony differs from evidence; testimony is the declaration of a witness, and evidence is the effect of that declaration on the mind, or the degree of light which it affords.
2. Affirmation; declaration. These doctrines are supported by the uniform testimony of the fathers. The belief of past facts must depend on the evidence of human testimony, or the testimony of historians.
3. Open attestation; profession. Thou for the testimony of truth hast borne / Universal reproach. Milton.
4. Witness; evidence; proof of some fact. Shake off the dust under your feet, for a testimony against them. Mark vi.
5. In Scripture, the two tables of the law. Thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. Exod. xxv.
6. The book of the law. He brought forth the king's son – and gave him the testimony. 2 Kings xi.
7. The Gospel, which testifies of Christ and declares the will of God. 1 Cor. ii. 2 Tim. i.
8. The ark. Exod. xvi.
9. The word of God; the Scriptures. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Ps. xix.
10. The laws or precepts of God. “I love thy testimonies.” “I have kept thy testimonies.” Psalms.
11. That which is equivalent to a declaration; manifestation. Sacrifices were appointed by God for a testimony of his hatred of sin. Clarke.
12. Evidence suggested to the mind; as, the testimony of conscience. 2 Cor. i.
13. Attestation; confirmation.

TEST'I-MO-NY, v.t.

To witness. [Not in use.] Shak.

TEST'I-NESS, n. [from testy.]

Fretfulness; peevishness; petulance. Testiness is a disposition or aptness to be angry. Locke.

TEST'ING, n.

1. The act of trying for proof.
2. In metallurgy, the operation of refining large quantities of gold or silver by means of lead, in the vessel called a test. In this process the extraneous matter is vitrified, scorified or destroyed, and the metal left pure. This operation is performed in the manner of cupellation. Cyc.

TEST'ING, ppr. [from test.]

Trying for proof; proving by a standard or by experiment. A plan for testing alkalies. Ure.

TES-TOON', n.

A silver coin in Italy and Portugal. In Florenee, the testoon is worth two lire or three paoli, about seventeen pence sterling, or thirty-two cents. At Lisbon, the festoon, as a money of account, is valued at 100 rees, about seven pence sterling, or twelve and a half cents.

TEST'-PA-PER, n.

A paper impregnated with a chimical reagent, as litmus, &c. Parke.

TES-TU'DIN-AL, a.

Pertaining to the tortoise, or resembling it. Fleming.

TES-TU'DIN-A-TED, a. [L. testudo, a tortoise.]

Roofed; arched.

TES-TU-DIN'E-OUS, a.

Resembling the shell of a tortoise.

TES-TU'DO, n. [L.]

1. A tortoise. Among the Romans, a cover or skreen which a body of troops formed with their shields or targets, by holding them over their heads when standing close to each other. This cover resembled the back of a tortoise, and served to shelter the men from darts, stones and other missiles. A similar defense was sometimes formed of boards and moved on wheels.
2. In medicine, a broad soft tumor between the skull and the skin, called also talpa or mole, as resembling the subterraneous windings of the tortoise or mole. Cyc.

TEST'Y, a. [from Fr. teste, tête, the head, or from the same root.]

Fretful; peevish; petulant; easily irritated. Pyrrhus cured his testy courtiers with a kick. Must I stand and crouch under your testy humor? Shak.

TET'A-NUS, n. [Gr. τετανος, stretched.]

A disease characterized by paroxysms of tonic spasms in the muscles of voluntary motion, producing incurvation of the body.

TE-TAR-TO-PRIS-MAT'IC, a. [Gr. τεταρτος, fourth.]

One fourth prismatic; applied to oblique rhombic prisms. Mohs.

TE-TAUG', n.

The name of a fish on the coast of New England; called also black fish, or rock fish.

TETCH'I-NESS, or TETCH'Y, n. [See TECHINESS, TECHY. (corrupted from touchy, touchiness.)]

TETE, n. [Fr. head.]

False hair; a kind of wig or cap of false hair.

TETE-A-TETE, adv. [Tete-a-tete; Fr.]

Head to head; cheek by jowl; in private.

TETH'ER, n. [See Tedder.]

A rope or chain by which a beast is confined for feeding within certain limits.

TETH'ER, v.t.

To confine, as a beast, with a rope or chain for feeding within certain limits. [It would be well to write this word uniformly tedder.]