Testamentum

Testamentum is a Latin noun, neuter in gender, meaning a will or testament in the legal sense and, in religious contexts, a covenant. The term is the ancestor of the English word "testament" and is often encountered in classical and ecclesiastical Latin. Etymologically, it is linked to the idea of a thing witnessed or proclaimed, drawing on the related verb forms for witnessing and declaring.

In Roman law, testamentum referred to a formal instrument by which a person disposed of property after their death. The validity and execution of a testament depended on established procedures and witnesses, and the concept played a central role in the legal culture of the later Roman Empire and medieval Europe, influencing civil-law traditions.

In Christian usage, testamentum also signifies covenant. The Latin Bible uses Vetus Testamentum (Old Testament) and Novum Testamentum (New Testament) to designate the two principal divisions of scripture. In theological discourse, testament emphasizes sacred covenants rather than merely a will.

Today, testamentum survives in two main senses. As a legal term in many languages, it denotes a person’s will or testamentary document. As a theological term, it denotes a biblical covenant or the collection of sacred writings. Latin phraseology such as Vetus Testamentum and Novum Testamentum remains common in scholarly and religious contexts, and related terms derived from testamentum include testator (the maker of a will) and testamentary (relating to wills).