nuncupative

American  

[nuhng-kyuh-pey-tiv, nuhng-kyoo-puh-tiv] / ˈnʌŋ kjəˌpeɪ tɪv, nʌŋˈkju pə tɪv /

adjective

1. (especially of a will) oral; not written.

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nuncupative British  

/ nʌŋˈkjuːpətɪv, ˈnʌŋkjʊˌpeɪtɪv /

adjective

1. (of a will) declared orally by the testator and later written down

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Etymology

Origin of nuncupative

First recorded in 1400–50; from Medieval Latin (testāmentum) nuncupātīvum “oral (will),” neuter of Late Latin nuncupātīvus “so-called, nominal,” equivalent to Latin nuncupāt(us), past participle of nuncupāre “to state formally, utter the name of” (probably from unattested nōmicupāre, derivative of nōmiceps “one taking a name,” equivalent to nōmi- combining form of nōmen “name” + -ceps “taker, catcher”); see prince ( def. )) + -īvus -ive ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nuncupative

Adj. named &c. v.; hight†, ycleped, known as; what one may well, call fairly, call properly, call fitly. nuncupatory†, nuncupative; cognominal†, titular, nominal, orismological†.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

He left me a small Legacy in a nuncupative Will, as a Token of his Kindness for me, and he left me once more to the wide World.

From Benjamin Franklin Representative selections, with introduction, bibliograpy, and notes by Jorgenson, Chester E.

Will you allow me to write down this confession over your own signature, lest a nuncupative testimony be not sufficient to condemn him.

From Honor Edgeworth Ottawa's Present Tense by Vera, [pseud.]

Then he sat down, bent low to the desk, and wrote on a blank form the preamble of a nuncupative will.

From Strange True Stories of Louisiana by Cable, George Washington

There must be in the testator the animus testandi, which is sometimes presumed from circumstances in such cases and in such places as nuncupative wills are recognized.

From By Advice of Counsel by Train, Arthur Cheney