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testament definition

tes·ta·ment (tes′tə mənt)

noun

  1. Obsolete a covenant, esp. one between God and man
    1. either of the two parts of the Christian Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament
    2. Informal a copy of the New Testament
    1. a statement, act, etc. testifying to the fact, validity, or worth of something; testimonial a testament to liberty
    2. an affirmation of beliefs or convictions; profession a freethinker's testament
  4. Law a will: now rare except in the phrase last will and testament

Etymology: OFr < LL(Ec) testamentum, Testament (in N.T., transl. of Gr diathēkē, covenant) < L, a will < testari, to testify, make a will < testis, a witness: see testify

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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