codicil

American  

[kod-uh-suhl] / ˈkɒd ə səl /

noun

1. a supplement to a will, containing an addition, explanation, modification, etc., of something in the will.

2. any supplement; appendix.

---

codicil British  

/ ˈkɒdɪsɪl, ˌkɒdɪˈsɪlərɪ /

noun

1. law a supplement modifying a will or revoking some provision of it

2. an additional provision; appendix

---

Other Word Forms

• codicillary adjective

Etymology

Origin of codicil

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin cōdicillus (in Latin, commonly in plural only), equivalent to Latin cōdic- (stem of cōdex ) codex + -illus diminutive suffix

Explanation

A codicil is a supplement to a will. If your will is already written and you want to alter it, you add a codicil. When your seemingly ancient neighbor marries a woman less than half his age, you might notice that his adult children suddenly stop coming to visit. This may be because he added a codicil to his will granting his new wife access to all his riches. Getting your inheritance in writing is a good idea, but a codicil can change everything.

Example Sentences

When the Greek goddess Eos asked the gods to grant her mortal lover Tithonus eternal life, she neglected to add a necessary codicil to the celestial contract — that he have eternal youth as well.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2019

We can’t have some codicil or letter or joint declaration.

From The Guardian • Jan. 29, 2019

The document, known as a codicil, did many things.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2018

When Judge Barry read the codicil, she reached the same conclusion.

From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2018

Here I must hasten to explain that the will is dated 1913, that is, a twelvemonth previous to the outbreak of this deplorable war, and there is no codicil.

From Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. A story of the Great War by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)