Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “testimony” come from?

Testimony derives from Latin testimonium, formed from testis and the suffix -mōnyom, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European tristh₂s and steh₂-, referring to one who stands as a witness.

testimony (English): Statements made by a witness in court; An account...

Definitions

  1. Statements made by a witness in court; An account...

Ancestry of “testimony”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latintestimoniumtestimony; evidence, proof
2Latintestiswitness; one who testifies or attests; testicle
3Latinterstis—
4Latintrīstis—
5Proto-Indo-Europeantristh₂sa third party standing, after the two parties to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- →