Other forms: testaments
A testament is a will, or clear proof of something. Last will and testament, a testament to her skill, the Old Testament.
Last will and testament is a legal doublet from the days when English law paired an English word with a French or Latin one for safety. A testament to something means evidence of it. The two parts of the Bible are the Old and New Testament.
1nounnounA will.
“In his last testament, the old farmer left all his land to his youngest son.”
2nountestamentClear proof of something.
“The packed stadium was a testament to the band's lasting popularity.”
testament is a will, or a proof.
Latin testamentum means a will, from testari, to bear witness, from testis, a witness. Testify is a relative.
Latin
testāmentum — the publication of a will, a will, testament, in Late Latin one of the divisions of the Bible
Old French
testament
Middle English
testament
English, today
testament
Built from
From Middle English testament, from Old French testament, from Latin testāmentum (“the publication of a will, a will, testament, in Late Latin one of the divisions of the Bible”), from testor (“to be a witness, testify, attest, make a will”), from testis (“one who attests, a witness”). Displaced native Old English ġecȳþnes.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA