testate

American  

[tes-teyt] / ˈtɛs teɪt /

adjective

1. having made and left a valid will.

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testate British  

/ ˈtɛsteɪt, ˈtɛstɪt, ˈtɛstəsɪ /

adjective

1. having left a legally valid will at death

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noun

1. a person who dies testate

Other Word Forms

• testacy noun

Etymology

Origin of testate

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin testātus, past participle of testārī to bear witness, make a will, derivative of testis witness; -ate ¹

Compare meaning

How does testate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• testate vs. intestate

Example Sentences

I shall not concern myself particularly with testate succession, because here obviously the will of the testator could dispose as he wished, except in so far as he was limited by the Falcidian Law.

From A Short History of Women's Rights From the Days of Augustus to the Present Time. with Special Reference to England and the United States. Second Edition Revised, With Additions. by Hecker, Eugene Arthur

One-half of the community property goes to the wife whether the husband dies testate or intestate.

From The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV by Harper, Ida Husted

Let us begin with inheritances, whose mode of devolution is twofold, according as a person dies testate or intestate; and of these two modes we will first treat of acquisition by will.

From The Institutes of Justinian by Moyle, John Baron

He inherits from the possessor, legitimately born, dying in testate in his house without apparent heirs.

From The Ancient Regime by Durand, John