noun

testament

A legal document directing how property is distributed after death.

The lawyer reads the deceased man's last will and testament.

Etymology

The Latin noun names a legal will. The modern legal sense preserves instructions for distributing property after the maker's death.

More examples

  • She signed her testament.
  • Several testaments were kept in the archive.
  • The court considered the testament's validity.

Forms

testament · testaments

Similar words

will
The ordinary legal term for instructions after death.
trust
A different arrangement for managing property.