testament Hear it!

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

testament Related Forms

tes′·ta·men′·tary (-men′tə rē) adjective or tes′·ta·men′·tal

testament Synonyms

testament

n.

covenant, testimonial, evidence; see proof 1.

testament Law Definition

n

A document disposing of a person’s personal property upon his or her death, distinct from a will, which is a devise of real estate.

testament Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • bear: The death of my father's friend bears testament to this cruel act.
  • fulfill: He is the one who fulfills the Old Testament by his sinless life.
  • interpret: And he was speaking on interpreting the Old Testament.
  • translate: On these occasions Felix Manz translated the Old Testament from the original Hebrew text; Grebel, the New Testament from the Greek.
  • stand: The church tower, like that at Newton Arlosh, stands testament to the need for a place of refuge for the local villagers.
  • read: Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study.

Noun used with modifier

bear: Photographs displayed in the dining room bear testament to the owners ' hard work over the years.

Adjective modifier

  • old: Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study.
  • Greek: Luke often used the Greek Old Testament for his stories.
  • enduring: And it is an enduring testament to the corruption, deceit and arrogance of this pitiful and mucky government.
  • remarkable: The remarkable testament is that my Uncle even recovered at all.
  • true: He remains the only England Manager to win the World Cup, a true testament to his ability.
  • real: Real testament to the benefits of a gardening lifestyle.

Modifies a noun

  • prophet: Jesus is the secret that the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah had been telling all people about.
  • prophesy: All fitting in with Roman strategy and Old Testament prophesy.
  • scripture: This links with the concept of Wisdom within the Old Testament scriptures, which was then translated into the greek logos.
  • saint: Daniel chapter 7 tells us the Old Testament saints will reign.
  • canon: The New Testament canon in its current form was first formally attested in 367.
  • passage: In our terms, some of the Old Testament passages cited are clearly taken out of context.

Preposition: in