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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TESTIFICATE, n., v.

I. n. †1. A solemn declaration of fact or belief put in writing, gen. on behalf of another person, a certificate, testimonial, esp. one as to character issued by a minister or kirk session to one having cause to apply for membership of another church (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Lnk. 1708 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 33:
Ane testificat under the hand of Alexander Knox, chirurgeon in Glasgow, on soul and conscience, was produced for James Dunlope.Wgt. 1716 Session Rec. Whithorn MS. (17 June):
No young uumarried woman shall have a testificat who is going for Irland except she intimate to the Session her design of going over at lest six weeks before she go.Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. iii. s. 5:
The Magistrates of that Place sent up a Testificate under the Physicians Hands, which the Council could not but accept.Sc. 1741 Caled. Mercury (10 March):
He is ready to produce Testificates under the hands of the Ministers, Elders, Justices of the Peace and Session-Clerks of Sutherland.Per. 1752 W. A. Gillies Famed Breadalbane (1938) 319:
None be allowed to begg through the Country save such as have Badges or testificates to certify their being in Indigent Circumstances.

2. Evidence, indication. Obs. in Eng. Arch.Ayr. 1833 Galt in Fraser's Mag. VIII. 65:
A deep sigh, which was a testificate to me that the leaven of unrighteousness was still within him.

¶II. v. To bear witness, testify.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xiv.:
He'll testificate that I'm a poor honest lad, of creditable parentage. [O.Sc. testificat, = I. 1., 1609, ad. Lat. testificatum, (that which is) testified, testificari, to testify.