Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - testament

 noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin ~um covenant with God, holy scripture, from Latin, last will, from testari to be a witness, call to witness, make a will, from testis witness; akin to Latin tres three & to Latin stare to stand; from the witness's standing by as a third party in a litigation — more at three, stand  Date: 14th century  1.  a. archaic a covenant between God and the human race  b. capitalized either of two main divisions of the Bible  2.  a. a tangible proof or tribute  b. an expression of conviction ; creed  3.  a. an act by which a person determines the disposition of his or her property after death  b. will  • ~ary adjective