Where does “Old Testament” come from?
Old Testament (English) comes from Latin Vetus Testamentum, from Latin testāmentum, from Latin testārī, from Italian testare, from English Test, from German testen, from German Test, from English test — to stand.
Old Testament (English): The first major part of the Christian Bible, covering events before the coming of Christ, corresponding roughly to the Jewish Tanakh. Usually subdivided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books), and prophecy
Definitions
- The first major part of the Christian Bible, covering events before the coming of Christ, corresponding roughly to the Jewish Tanakh. Usually subdivided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books), and prophecy
Ancestry of “Old Testament”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Vetus Testamentum | the Old Testament |
| 2 | Latin | testāmentum | will, testament |
| 3 | Latin | testārī | — |
| 4 | Italian | testare | To be testate; To test; to sample |
| 5 | English | Test | a Test match |
| 6 | German | testen | to test |
| 7 | German | Test | test; melting pot |
| 8 | English | test | A challenge, trial; A cupel or cupelling hearth... |
| 9 | Middle English | teste | — |
| 10 | Old French | teste | head |
| 11 | Latin | testis | witness; one who testifies or attests; testicle |
| 12 | Latin | terstis | — |
| 13 | Latin | trīstis | sad, unhappy, melancholy, morose |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | tristh₂s | a third party standing, after the two parties to... |
| 15 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |