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.

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codicil British  

/ ˈkɒdɪsɪl, ˌkɒdɪˈsɪlərɪ /

noun

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

2. an additional provision; appendix

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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

Will it make us say, “So this is why, throughout history, cheap thrills are always so tempting”? Codicil: Remember, the road to hell is always paved with more wild-card teams.

From Washington Post • Sep. 29, 2020

The Codicil is witnessed by the same persons.

From A Week's Tramp in Dickens-Land by Hughes, William R. (William Richard)

CODICIL.—This is a Codicil to the last will and testament of me, the Right Honourable George Gordon, Lord Byron.

From Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 With His Letters and Journals by Moore, Thomas

Codicil, kod′i-sil, n. a short writing or note added as a supplement to a will.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Then follow the Prayer and Codicil already inserted in the Narrative, which conclude HIS LORDSHIP'S manuscript.

From Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson by Beatty, William