testamentum Latin · revision 30771

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *trito-sth₂-o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [tɛs.taːˈmɛn.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [tes.taˈmɛn.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''testāmentum''' ''n'' (genitive testāmentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|testor|-mentum|t1=to call to witness, make a will]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan derives [[m|la|testor]] from [[m|la|testis|t=witness]], which he traces to [[itc-pro|*tri-sto-]] and [[ine-pro|*trito-sth₂-o-|t=standing by as a third]].^(de Vaan 2008) The Christian sense comes from its use to render [[grc|διαθήκη|tr=diathḗkē|t=covenant; will]].^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) and the OLD's first example is in Plautus' ''Asinaria''.^(OLD 2012) Köbler first records it in Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Testāmentum'' is a will, the last declaration of what one wants done after one's death, as Gellius defines it.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Apuleius makes a joke of it, as if from ''testis'' “testicle”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Christian Latin it renders the Greek word for “covenant”, and so names the covenant of God, and the Old and New Testaments, ''Vetus'' and ''Novum Testāmentum'', and the Bible.^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary) In medieval Latin it was also a deed of gift to take effect at death, any written deed, and a royal diploma.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius defines it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius jokes on ''testis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|will]], [[m|en|testament]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(humorous)'' The testicles.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A [[m|en|covenant]]; the Old or New Testament; the Bible.^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A deed of gift at death; any written deed; a royal diploma.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[testamentārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[testor]]

+ * [[testis]]

+ * [[intestātus]]

+ * [[testimōnium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}