testament means 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). It carries an Arena rating of 1510, earned across 8 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, testament ranks #747 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #1,372 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words, #2,263 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #3,280 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
testament is pronounced /ˈtɛs.tə.mənt/.
Why “testament” is a great word
A formal, legal document that bequeaths one's estate and a canonical division of scripture, both being final bequests from one who will not be present to see them honored. From Middle English testament, from Old French testament, from Latin testāmentum ("a will, testament"), from testor ("to bear witness, make a will"), from testis ("a witness"). Unlike a "will"—the modern, encompassing legal instrument—"testament" is the archaic, witnessing word, now preserved in solemn cadence; and unlike a "covenant," which implies a mutual pact, a testament is a unilateral dispensation, a legacy declared but not negotiated. It is the scratch of a pen in a solicitor's quiet office, the brittle page of a family Bible, and the sealed envelope opened only after breath has ceased—the fragile machinery by which we attempt to project our order beyond the final, un-witnessable moment, speaking for the dead to the living.
Etymology
From Middle English testament, from Old French testament, from Latin testāmentum (“the publication of a will, a will, testament, in Late Latin one of the divisions of the Bible”), from testor (“to be a witness, testify, attest, make a will”), from testis (“one who attests, a witness”). Displaced native Old English ġecȳþnes.
noun
- 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).
- 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.
- A tangible proof or tribute.e.g.“The ancient aqueducts are a testament to the great engineering skill of the Roman Empire.”
- A credo, expression of conviction.e.g.“The prime minister's speech was a glowing testament to the cabinet's undying commitment to the royal cause.”
verb
- To make a will.
- To bequeath or leave by will.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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