testament
noun
testament
American
[tes-tuh-muhnt]
/ ˈtɛs tə mənt /
noun
testaments
plural
-
Law.
-
either of the two major portions of the Bible: the Mosaic or old covenant or dispensation, or the Christian or new covenant or dispensation.
-
(initial capital letter) the New Testament, as distinct from the Old Testament.
-
(initial capital letter) a copy of the New Testament.
-
a covenant, especially between God and humans.
testament
1
British
/ ˈtɛstəmənt /
noun
-
law a will setting out the disposition of personal property (esp in the phrase last will and testament )
-
a proof, attestation, or tribute
his success was a testament to his skills
-
-
a covenant instituted between God and man, esp the covenant of Moses or that instituted by Christ
-
a copy of either the Old or the New Testament, or of the complete Bible
-
Testament
2
British
/ ˈtɛstəmənt /
noun
-
either of the two main parts of the Bible; the Old Testament or the New Testament
-
the New Testament as distinct from the Old
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of testament
1250–1300; Middle English: will, covenant < Latin testāmentum, equivalent to testā ( rī ) to bear witness ( see testate) + -mentum -ment
Explanation
A testament is a statement of belief. The most famous testaments are the two parts of the Christian Bible: the Old and New Testaments. A testament states a belief or gives some kind of direction. The document people leave behind at death is known as the "last will and testament." It gives lawyers directions for dividing their possessions among family and friends. Also, you could say that an A in math class is a testament to your math skills. If you give to charity, that’s a testament to your character. Any testament is a strong statement of some kind.
Vocabulary lists containing testament
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The Westing Game
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Douglas Rushkoff -- The media critic and writer of the new Vertigo series TESTAMENT.
From Time Magazine Archive
He made a Philosophical Theology, wherein he cast off the OLD TESTAMENT, so that consequently the New would have no foundation.
From Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician, the Philosopher and the Scholar by Stevens, Henry
I hope you will have no more quarrels, neither with the OLD nor with the New TESTAMENT.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 16 by Carlyle, Thomas
NEW TESTAMENT: in the Dutch and Russian languages.
From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall
Flexible cloth, net, 0.18; Leather. net, 0.50 NEW TESTAMENT.
From Explanation of Catholic Morals A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals by Stapleton, John H. (John Henry)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
