from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Testament \Tes"ta*ment\, n. [F., fr. L. testamentum, fr. testari
to be a witness, to make one's last will, akin to testis a
witness. Cf. {Intestate}, {Testify}.]
1. (Law) A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which
a person declares his will as to disposal of his estate
and effects after his death.
[1913 Webster]
Note: This is otherwise called a will, and sometimes a last
will and testament. A testament, to be valid, must be
made by a person of sound mind; and it must be executed
and published in due form of law. A man, in certain
cases, may make a valid will by word of mouth only. See
{Nuncupative will}, under {Nuncupative}.
[1913 Webster]
2. One of the two distinct revelations of God's purposes
toward man; a covenant; also, one of the two general
divisions of the canonical books of the sacred Scriptures,
in which the covenants are respectively revealed; as, the
Old Testament; the New Testament; -- often limited, in
colloquial language, to the latter.
[1913 Webster]
He is the mediator of the new testament . . . for
the redemption of the transgressions that were under
the first testament. --Heb. ix. 15.
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{Holographic testament}, a testament written wholly by the
testator himself. --Bouvier.
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