Where does “testament” come from?
Testament derives from Latin testamentum, formed from testis (witness) plus the suffix -mentum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- (to stand), the root sense of one who stands as a witness.
testament (English): A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by...
Definitions
- A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by...
Ancestry of “testament”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | testamentum | will, testament |
| 2 | Latin | testor | I am witness, testify, attest; I make a will |
| 3 | Latin | testis | witness; one who testifies or attests; testicle |
| 4 | Latin | terstis | — |
| 5 | Latin | trīstis | sad, unhappy, melancholy, morose |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tristh₂s | a third party standing, after the two parties to... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |