testaments
|tes-ta-ments|
/ˈtɛstəmənts/
(testament)
evidence or will
Etymology
'testament' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'testamentum', where 'testari' meant 'to testify' (from 'testis', 'witness').
'testamentum' passed into Old French as 'testament' and entered Middle English from Anglo-Norman/Old French, later becoming the modern English 'testament'.
Initially it referred to a 'witnessed statement' or 'testimony' and specifically a legal declaration; over time it came to mean a person's will and also, by extension, a statement of belief or evidence (as in 'a testament to').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'testament' meaning a person's will; a legal document stating someone’s wishes about the disposal of their property after death.
Several of his testaments were submitted to the court after his death.
Synonyms
Noun 2
one of the two major divisions of the Christian Bible (the Old Testament and the New Testament); used collectively to refer to those scriptures.
The stories in the Old and New Testaments have shaped Western literature.
Synonyms
Noun 3
evidence or proof of something; something that serves as a clear sign.
Her many awards are testaments to her dedication and skill.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/11/18 16:13