Where does “testament” come from?
testament (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch testament, from Old French testament, from Latin testāmentum, from Latin testārī, from Italian testare, from English Test, from German testen, from German Test — to stand.
testament (Dutch): testament, last will
Ancestry of “testament”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | testament | — |
| 2 | Old French | testament | testimony; statement |
| 3 | Latin | testāmentum | — |
| 4 | Latin | testārī | — |
| 5 | Italian | testare | To be testate; To test; to sample |
| 6 | English | Test | a Test match |
| 7 | German | testen | to test |
| 8 | German | Test | test; melting pot |
| 9 | English | test | A challenge, trial; A cupel or cupelling hearth... |
| 10 | Middle English | teste | — |
| 11 | Old French | teste | head |
| 12 | Latin | testis | witness; one who testifies or attests; testicle |
| 13 | Latin | terstis | — |
| 14 | Latin | trīstis | — |
| 15 | Proto-Indo-European | tristh₂s | a third party standing, after the two parties to... |
| 16 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |