TESTAMENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Testament mean? 

• TESTAMENT (noun)
  The noun TESTAMENT has 4 senses:

1. a profession of belief

2. a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die

3. strong evidence for something

4. either of the two main parts of the Christian Bible

  Familiarity information: TESTAMENT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TESTAMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A profession of belief

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

he stated his political testament

Hypernyms ("testament" is a kind of...):

credo; creed (any system of principles or beliefs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

testament; will

Hypernyms ("testament" is a kind of...):

instrument; legal document; legal instrument; official document ((law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right)

Meronyms (parts of "testament"):

codicil (a supplement to a will; a testamentary instrument intended to alter an already executed will)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "testament"):

Old Testament (the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people; the first half of the Christian Bible)

New Testament (the collection of books of the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the Pauline and other epistles, and Revelation; composed soon after Christ's death; the second half of the Christian Bible)

devise (a will disposing of real property)

Derivation:

testamentary (of or relating to a will or testament or bequeathed by a will or testament)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Strong evidence for something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

his easy victory was a testament to his skill

Hypernyms ("testament" is a kind of...):

testimonial; testimony (something that serves as evidence)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Either of the two main parts of the Christian Bible

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("Testament" is a kind of...):

religious text; religious writing; sacred text; sacred writing (writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity)

Holonyms ("Testament" is a part of...):

Bible; Book; Christian Bible; Good Book; Holy Scripture; Holy Writ; Scripture; Word; Word of God (the sacred writings of the Christian religions)

 Context examples 

He was in dreadful earnest and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever happened I would always be true to him.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On one hand, Saturn and Pluto will oppose the moon, a testament to the force that a VIP may be applying toward you that seems unfair.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The researchers say this study is a testament to the growing trend of international and cross-disciplinary collaboration, which is needed to combat the growing and global threat of antibiotic resistance.

(A New Class of Antibiotics to Combat Drug Resistance, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

She read from the New Testament, and he took keen interest in the prodigal son and the thief on the cross.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

And do you know I must say, sir, he continued, mildly laying his head on one side, that I DON'T find authority for Mr. and Miss Murdstone in the New Testament?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Read the New Testament, and observe what Christ says, and how He acts; make His word your rule, and His conduct your example.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

On the table she laid her little testament and hymnbook, kept a vase always full of the best flowers Laurie brought her, and came every day to 'sit alone' thinking good thoughts, and praying the dear God to preserve her sister.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The first was a will, drawn in the same eccentric terms as the one which he had returned six months before, to serve as a testament in case of death and as a deed of gift in case of disappearance; but in place of the name of Edward Hyde, the lawyer, with indescribable amazement read the name of Gabriel John Utterson.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening on the very morning of the wedding.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All the rest he died possessed of, he bequeathed to Peggotty; whom he left residuary legatee, and sole executrix of that his last will and testament.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)