testify

Definition

To give sworn evidence in court or a deposition, where perjury charges hang over every word you say. It's the legal system's way of extracting information while threatening you with prison if you lie. Witnesses quickly learn that "I don't recall" is a much safer answer than making stuff up.

Example Usage

The CEO was compelled to testify about the company's accounting practices during the fraud trial.

Source: Court procedure terminology

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