nuncupative

American  

[nuhng-kyuh-pey-tiv, nuhng-kyoo-puh-tiv] / ˈnʌŋ kyəˌpeɪ tɪv, nʌŋˈkyu 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”); prince ( def. ) ) + -īvus -ive ( def. )

Example Sentences

A will of this kind is called a nuncupative will.

From The Government Class Book Designed for the Instruction of Youth in the Principles of Constitutional Government and the Rights and Duties of Citizens. by Young, Andrew W.

Therefore Christ, unless He derived His humanity from the essence of God, must as man, and in respect of that humanity, be Son of God only in a nuncupative sense.

From Christianity and Islam in Spain (756-1031) by Haines, Charles Reginald

"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

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