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

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.

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

By a nuncupative will, he left a house in London to his wife, a house in Acton and a meadow to his daughter Elizabeth, and his study of books to his son-in-law Thomas Nash.

From Shakespeare's Family by Stopes, C. C. (Charlotte Carmichael)

But a wish is one thing; a will, even a nuncupative will by public act, is another and an infinitely better and more effective thing.

From Strange True Stories of Louisiana by Cable, George Washington

"It is true that under certain exceptional circumstances a man may make what is known as a nuncupative will."

From By Advice of Counsel by Train, Arthur Cheney