n.
Pronunciation: ' tes-t ə -m ə nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin testamentum covenant with God, holy scripture, from Latin, last will, from testari to be a witness, call to witness, make a will, from testis witness; akin to Latin tres three & to Latin stare to stand; from the witness's standing by as a third party in a litigation ― more at THREE , STAND
Date: 14th century
1 a archaic : a covenant between God and the human race b capitalized : either of two main divisions of the Bible
2 a : a tangible proof or tribute b : an expression of conviction : CREED
3 a : an act by which a person determines the disposition of his or her property after death b : WILL
– tes · ta · men · ta · ry \ ˌ tes-t ə - ' men-t ə -r ē , - ' men-tr ē \ adjective