释义 |
▪ I. † teste1 Obs. rare. [a. OF. teste (11th c.), mod.F. tête head:—L. testa an earthen pot, in late L. a skull, in pop.L. head.] The head.
13..K. Alis. 7112 (Bodl. MS.) For Cades was a ferly beste Þries shett teeþ weren in his teste. c1450Two Cookery-bks. 112 Teste de cure.—Nym rys..& bray hem al to doust: tempre it vp with almand mylk, cast therto poudur and safron & sugur [etc.]. ▪ II. teste2|ˈtɛstiː| Also 6 testey, -ty, 7 -tee. [a. L. teste, abl. of testis witness.] 1. The L. word teste in ablative absolute constr. with a pronoun (e.g. meipso myself) or name of a person, as used in the authenticating clause of a writ, etc.: see sense 2; hence, in same construction, in non-legal use, before the name of a person cited as witness or authority, = (So and so) being witness, on the authority or evidence of (So and so); teste meipso, teste seipso, on my or his own testimony or authority; also as n. one's own evidence.
[c1194: see Note to sense 2.] 1607Cowell Interpr., Teste, is..so called, because the very conclusion of euery writ wherein the date is contained, beginneth with these words (teste meipso, etc.).
1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. xxiii. 277 This proofe a Teste seipso, is not so current as the other. 1686South Serm. (1727) II. 340 Presently the Sot..vouched also by a Teste Meipso,..steps forth an exact Politician. 1842Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. ii. Blasphemer's Warn., Many..commanders ‘Swore terribly (teste T. Shandy) in Flanders’. 1848Lowell Biglow P. Ser. i. ii, The Devil, teste Cotton Mather, is unversed in certain of the Indian dialects. 1916G. Saintsbury Peace of Augustans iii. 130 Lamb (teste Hazlitt..) was inclined to agree with Scott. 1968Listener 6 June 737/2 He tells us, teste Evelyn Waugh, of a Sitwellian habit of leaving Sitwell press cuttings (surely not all their press cuttings?) in bowls on the drawing-room table. 2. a. The final clause in a royal writ naming the person who authorizes the affixing of the king's seal. Where (as in letters close and patent) the king himself authenticates the sealing, the clause has, since Rich. I, begun teste meipso ‘witness I myself’. Where a high official authenticates (as in judicial and exchequer writs, and during the king's absence), his name and (usually) office are stated. As such a clause generally stated place and date of sealing, the term became practically = date n.2
1423in Letter-bk. I Lond. (1909) 298 The teste of the which maundement ys the xx day of Feverer, the second yeer of his regne. 1467–8Rolls of Parlt. V. 603/2 Oure said Letters Patentes, wherof the Teste is at Westm' the xixth day of Juyn. 1542–3Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 26 §14 The teste of euerye bill and judiciall proces that shall passe undre the saide judiciall Seall, shalbe undre the name of suche of the saide Justices..in lyke maner and forme as is used in the Common Place in Englande. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1245/1 It was doone by the son in the fathers name, and vnder the teste of the son, the father yet being king in shew. 1588Lambarde Eiren. ii. ii. 106 Which..may bee in the name of the Queene, and vnder the Teste of the Iustice of the Peace, thus..Witnesse the said G. M. 1653Acts & Ordin. Parl. (1658) 275 From and after the six and twentieth day of December, 1653, the Name, Style, Title and Teste of the ‘Lord Protector..of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging’, shall be used, and no other. 1658Practick Part of Law 6 This Writ may bear Teste out of the Term. 1672Cory Course & Pract. Comm.-Pl. 23 Of the Teste's and Retorns of Writs in all Actions real and personal. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. ii. 172 No candidate shall, after the date (usually called the teste) of the writs..give any money or entertainment. 1792Act Congr. in Bouvier's Law Dict. (1898) s.v., All writs and process issuing from the supreme or a circuit court shall bear teste of the chief justice of the supreme court. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 396 It appeared the teste of the warrant of attorney was after appearance. b. Hence, more generally, a clause stating the name of a witness (as to a charter in writ-form).
1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vii. xliv. §45. 380 His name is continually set downe, as a Witnesse in the testees of his fathers Charters. c1617in Hardy Rot. Chart. (1837) Introd. 30 There was some question about the marshalling of these testes in there due place. Ibid., Whether the Duke..should take his place in the teste as Earle of Richmond or Duke of Lenneux. †c. Evidence, proof. Obs.
1567Fenton Trag. Disc. 214 Whyche kynde of courtyng thamarus Luchyn forgatt not too prefer as a testey of hys seruice and a furtherer of his sut. c1585Faire Em ii. i. 100 Whose glauncing eyes..Giues testies of their Maisters amorous hart. ▪ III. teste obs. form of test n.1, n.3 |