testamentary

[tes-tuh-men-tuh-ree, -men-tree]

adjective

of, relating to, or of the nature of a testament or will.
given, bequeathed, done, or appointed by will.
set forth or contained in a will.

Sometimes tes·ta·men·tal [tes-tuh-men-tl] /ˌtɛs təˈmɛn tl/.

Origin of testamentary

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word testāmentārius. See testament, -ary

Related formsnon·tes·ta·men·ta·ry, adjectiveun·tes·ta·men·tal, adjectiveun·tes·ta·men·ta·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for testamentary

Historical Examples of testamentary

The blessings of his purchase in the first ages were, even as in the last, testamentary.
The Ordinance of Covenanting
John Cunningham
I sat down this morning and put on paper my testamentary meaning.
The Letters of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
I should not fail to remember this in making my testamentary arrangements.
The Rock of the Lion
Molly Elliot Seawell
Testamentary power can only be created by the words of a book, by an anathema.
Domesday Book and Beyond
Frederic William Maitland
Still, testamentary power did not come as soon as other rights.
The Curiosities and Law of Wills
John Proffatt

British Dictionary definitions for testamentary

testamentary

adjective

of or relating to a will or testament
derived from, bequeathed, or appointed by a will
contained or set forth in a will

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for testamentary

adj.

mid-15c., from Latin testamentarius, from testamentum (see testament).