testament

[ tes-tuh-muhnt ]

noun

1. Law.
   1. a will, especially one that relates to the disposition of one's personal property.
   2. will ²( def 8 ).
2. either of the two major portions of the Bible: the Mosaic or old covenant or dispensation, or the Christian or new covenant or dispensation.
3. (initial capital letter) the New Testament, as distinct from the Old Testament.
4. (initial capital letter) a copy of the New Testament.
5. a covenant, especially between God and humans.

testament

¹

/ ˈtɛstəmənt /

noun

1. law a will setting out the disposition of personal property (esp in the phrase last will and testament )
2. a proof, attestation, or tribute

   his success was a testament to his skills

3. 1. a covenant instituted between God and man, esp the covenant of Moses or that instituted by Christ
   2. a copy of either the Old or the New Testament, or of the complete Bible

Testament

²

/ ˈtɛstəmənt /

noun

1. either of the two main parts of the Bible; the Old Testament or the New Testament
2. the New Testament as distinct from the Old

Derived Forms

• ˌtestaˈmental, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of testament¹

1250–1300; Middle English: will, covenant < Latin testāmentum, equivalent to testā ( rī ) to bear witness ( testate ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of testament¹

C14: from Latin: a will, from testārī to bear witness, from testis a witness

Example Sentences

This is a testament to true love, grit, loyalty and the power of the body — and love — to heal.

From Washington Post

That his turnover rate has dropped7 is a testament to increased comfort in quarterbacking the offense.

From FiveThirtyEight

These three companies are dedicated to producing high-end appliances for the home, and their microwaves are a testament to their mission.

From Popular-Science

What Shonda Rhimes has achieved is a testament to “Bridgerton” being not just exceptional but inclusive, too.

From Washington Post

Amici’s experiences in sports and in life are a testament to the value of inclusion in building powerful teams and social, societal, and business institutions.

From Washington Blade

This is a testament to the fundamental human—and American—desire to combine place and possibility.

From The Daily Beast

The battle to secure that funding is testament to the difficulty in making truly independent movies.

From The Daily Beast

But it is a testament to that show that people got that involved.

From The Daily Beast

But it also is a testament to how much she is, and how much we all are, too.

From The Daily Beast

My email inbox bears testament to this fact nearly every week.

From The Daily Beast

In the New Testament a few examples appear in which his utterances are given a quasi-judicial tone.

From Project Gutenberg

A copy of Tendall's testament sold at Oxford for 20 guineas, supposed to be the only copy of that edition unburned by Tonstall.

From Project Gutenberg

And not less, than under a former dispensation, is the exercise represented as an act of obedience in New Testament times.

From Project Gutenberg

Her testimony diametrically opposes several 119 items which McCracken has written into the unsigned testament of the deceased.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter are countenanced by no class of vows lawfully made, either in Old Testament times or in a later period.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• proof
• testimonial
• testimony