Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Testament

Tes′ta-ment

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
testamentum
, fr.
testari
to be a witness, to make one’s last will, akin to
testis
a witness. Cf.
Intestate
,
Testify
.]
1.
(Law)
A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his will as to disposal of his estate and effects after his death.
☞ This is otherwise called a will, and sometimes a last will and testament. A testament, to be valid, must be made by a person of sound mind; and it must be executed and published in due form of law. A man, in certain cases, may make a valid will by word of mouth only. See
Nuncupative will
, under
Nuncupative
.
2.
One of the two distinct revelations of God's purposes toward man; a covenant; also, one of the two general divisions of the canonical books of the sacred Scriptures, in which the covenants are respectively revealed;
as, the Old
Testament
; the New
Testament
; – often limited, in colloquial language, to the latter.
He is the mediator of the new
testament
. . . for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
testament
.
Heb. ix. 15.
Holographic testament
,
a testament written wholly by the testator himself.
Bouvier.

Webster 1828 Edition

Testament

TEST'AMENT

,
Noun.
[L. testamentum, from testor, to make a will.]
1.
A solemn authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his will as to the disposal of his estate and effects after his death. This is otherwise called a will. A testament,to be valid, must be made when the testator is of sound mind, and it must be subscribed, witnessed and published in such manner as the law prescribes.
A man in certain cases may make a valid will by words only, and such will is called nuncupative.
2.
The name of each general division of the canonical books of the sacred Scriptures; as the Old Testament; the New Testament. The name is equivalent to covenant, and in our use of it, we apply it to the books which contain the old and new dispensations; that of Moses, and that of Jesus Christ.

Definition 2024

Testament

Testament

See also: testament

German

Noun

Testament n ‎(genitive Testamentes or Testaments, plural Testamente)

  1. (law) will, testament
  2. (biblical) testament (part of the Bible)

Declension

Derived terms

testament

testament

See also: Testament

English

Noun

testament ‎(plural testaments)

  1. (law) A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his or her will as to disposal of his or her inheritance (estate and effects) after his or her death, benefiting specified heir(s).
  2. One of the two parts to the scriptures of the Christian religion: the New Testament, considered by Christians to be a continuation of the Hebrew scriptures, and the Hebrew scriptures themselves, which they refer to as the Old Testament.
  3. A tangible proof or tribute.
  4. A credo, expression of conviction
    The prime minister's speech was a glowing testament to the cabinet's undying commitment to the royal cause

Synonyms

  • (law): will, last will and testament, last will

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • testament in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • testament in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

Catalan

Noun

testament m ‎(plural testaments)

  1. testament
  2. will (document)

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tɛstaˈmɛnt/
  • Hyphenation: tes‧ta‧ment
  • Rhymes: -ɛnt

Etymology

From Middle Dutch testament, from Old French testament, from Latin testamentum ‎(“the publication of a will, a will, testament”).

Noun

testament n ‎(plural testamenten, diminutive testamentje n)

  1. testament, last will

Derived terms

French

Pronunciation

Noun

testament m ‎(plural testaments)

  1. testament, last will

Derived terms

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin testamentum, via Old Norse testament

Alternative forms

Noun

testament n ‎(definite singular testamentet, indefinite plural testament or testamenter, definite plural testamenta or testamentene)

  1. a will (and/or) testament

Related terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin testamentum, via Old Norse testament

Alternative forms

Noun

testament n ‎(definite singular testamentet, indefinite plural testament, definite plural testamenta)

  1. a will (and/or) testament

References

Old French

Noun

testament m ‎(oblique plural testamenz or testamentz, nominative singular testamenz or testamentz, nominative plural testament)

  1. testimony; statement

Descendants

Polish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tɛˈstamɛnt/

Noun

testament m inan

  1. A (last) will (legal document)

Declension

Serbo-Croatian

Noun

testàment m ‎(Cyrillic spelling теста̀мент)

  1. the (last) will (legal document)

Declension

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tɛstamˈɛnt/

Similar Results