testament
gb/tˈɛstəmənt/ us/tˈɛstəmənt/
B2
English
~ 7900
bizonyíték, tanúbizonyság, végrendelet, Újszövetség, Ószövetség
NOUN
B2
1
bizonyíték
A2
Usage pattern:
be a testament to [something]
The low staff turnover is a testament to how well the company treats its employees.
Her rapid recovery is a testament to her strength and determination.
This ancient bridge is a testament to the skill of Roman engineers.
The success of the project is a testament to years of careful planning.
His calm reaction under pressure was a testament to his experience.
Learner examples
His good grades are a testament to his hard work.
The clean city streets are a testament to the local workers.
Her happy team is a testament to her leadership.
The long line outside the store is a testament to the product’s popularity.
This old house is a testament to good building methods.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "testament" with "testimony". "Testament" in this sense usually describes a thing or result that shows something is true (for example, "This book is a testament to her talent"), while "testimony" often refers to spoken or written statements, especially in court.
Meaning
strong proof or evidence of something
Collocations
a testament to [something]
|stand as a testament to
|living testament
|lasting testament
|powerful testament
|shining testament
Synonyms
proof (More general and slightly more common; does not carry the same formal or emphatic tone.)
|
evidence (Broader and more neutral; often used in legal or scientific contexts, less emotional than "testament".)
Antonyms
disproof (Refers to evidence or facts that show something is not true, the opposite of strong supporting evidence.)
Themes
communication
|abstract
|work
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that is strong proof that something is true or exists.
Something that clearly shows or strongly proves that a particular fact, quality, or situation is real.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
2
végrendelet
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]’s last will and testament
According to his last will and testament, the house was left to his niece.
Végrendelete szerint a házat az unokahúgára hagyta.
She met with a lawyer to update her will and testament after the birth of her son.
Ügyvéddel találkozott, hogy fia születése után módosítsa a végrendeletét.
The court questioned whether the testament had been signed under pressure.
His testament clearly stated that his art collection should go to a museum.
The lawyer read the will and testament to the gathered family members.
Learner examples
My grandfather wrote a will and testament before he died.
A nagyapám végrendeletet készített, mielőtt meghalt.
The will and testament says who gets the money.
A végrendeletben áll, hogy ki kapja a pénzt.
She went to a lawyer to make her testament.
If you do not have a testament, the court decides who gets your things.
They found his old testament in a desk drawer.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "testament" alone is commonly used in speech for this meaning; in modern English it almost always appears in the fixed legal phrase "last will and testament", while people normally just say "will" in everyday conversation.
Meaning
formal term for a will
Collocations
last will and testament
|make a testament
|sign a testament
|execute a testament
|read the testament
|valid testament
Synonyms
will (The everyday, shorter word; less formal and more common in conversation than "testament".)
Antonyms
intestacy (Legal term for dying without a will or testament, the opposite situation of having such a document.)
Themes
law
|money
|family
|finance
Definition
A legal paper that says who will get your money and things after you die, usually called a "last will and testament".
A formal legal document in which a person states how their property and affairs should be handled after their death, especially in the fixed phrase "last will and testament".
NOUN
B2
3
Újszövetség
B1
Usage pattern:
the New Testament
The pastor based his sermon on a passage from the New Testament.
A lelkész a prédikációját az Újszövetség egyik szakaszára alapozta.
She is studying how women are portrayed in the New Testament.
Azt tanulmányozza, hogyan ábrázolják a nőket az Újszövetségben.
Many New Testament letters were written by Paul.
They compared laws from the Old Testament and teachings from the New Testament.
His research focuses on New Testament Greek manuscripts.
Learner examples
Christians read the New Testament to learn about Jesus.
A keresztények az Újszövetséget olvassák, hogy Jézusról tanuljanak.
The New Testament is the second part of the Bible.
Az Újszövetség a Biblia második része.
He bought a small New Testament to carry with him.
We read a story from the New Testament in class.
She wrote an essay about love in the New Testament.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes lowercase it as "new testament"; in English it is treated as a proper name and both words are usually capitalized: "New Testament".
Meaning
the New Testament in the Bible
Collocations
the New Testament
|New Testament scholar
|New Testament studies
|New Testament writings
|Greek New Testament
|New Testament church
Synonyms
the Christian scriptures (New Testament) (Descriptive phrase rather than a fixed proper name; sometimes used in academic or explanatory contexts.)
Antonyms
the Old Testament (The other main division of the Christian Bible, often mentioned in contrast rather than as a true opposite.)
Themes
religion
|history
|literature
|education
Definition
The second main part of the Christian Bible, which tells about Jesus and the first Christians.
The second main division of the Christian Bible, containing the Gospels, letters, and other writings about the life of Jesus and the early Christian church.
NOUN
B2
4
Ószövetség
B1
Usage pattern:
the Old Testament
Many famous Bible stories come from the Old Testament.
Sok híres bibliai történet az Ószövetségből származik.
He is writing a commentary on Old Testament poetry.
Kommentárt ír az ószövetségi költészetről.
The class compared an Old Testament passage with a modern poem.
Her research explores justice in Old Testament law.
They read about the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament.
Learner examples
The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible.
Az Ószövetség a Biblia első része.
There are many laws in the Old Testament.
Az Ószövetségben sok törvény található.
We read a story from the Old Testament today.
He is interested in Old Testament history.
She bought a book about Old Testament prophets.
Common mistake:
As with "New Testament", learners sometimes forget to capitalize both words. It is normally written as "Old Testament" in English.
Meaning
the Old Testament in the Bible
Collocations
the Old Testament
|Old Testament law
|Old Testament prophet
|Old Testament story
|Old Testament studies
|Old Testament Hebrew
Synonyms
the Hebrew Bible (in Christian context) (Often used in academic or interfaith contexts; not a perfect synonym in all traditions but overlaps strongly in content.)
Antonyms
the New Testament (The later division of the Christian Bible, regularly contrasted with the Old Testament.)
Themes
religion
|history
|literature
|education
Definition
The first main part of the Christian Bible, which is similar to the Hebrew Bible and includes laws, stories, and poems.
The first main division of the Christian Bible, corresponding largely to the Hebrew Bible, containing religious laws, history, poetry, and prophetic writings.
Grammar
Dictionary form
testament
IPA
GB/tˈɛstəmənt/
US/tˈɛstəmənt/
Syllables & stress
test - a - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (test)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: testament
- Plural: testaments
Word family
Forms
testaments
noun
Related words
testimonial
noun B2
attest
verb B2
Advanced or less common
testamentary
adjective
attestation
noun
Expressions
a testament to
1/ə tˈɛstəmənt tə/
fixed phrase
shows clearly that something is true
Used to say that something is strong proof of another thing.
Examples
- Her success is a testament to years of hard work.
- The popularity of the show is a testament to the writers’ talent.
- This peaceful protest is a testament to the community’s unity.
be a testament to
1/bˈi ə tˈɛstəmənt tə/
fixed phrase
serve as strong evidence of
Used when you say that something serves as strong proof of another thing.
Examples
- Their calm response was a testament to their training.
- This building is a testament to modern engineering.
- The clean water is a testament to the city’s investment in infrastructure.
living testament to
1/lˈɪvɪŋ tˈɛstəmənt tə/
fixed phrase
person or thing that clearly shows something
Used to say that a person or thing that is still alive or existing is clear proof of something.
Examples
- She is a living testament to the power of education.
- This forest is a living testament to successful conservation efforts.
New Testament
1/njˈu tˈɛstəmənt/
fixed phrase
second main part of the Bible
The name for the second main part of the Christian Bible.
Examples
- They are studying parables from the New Testament this semester.
- He quoted the New Testament to support his argument about forgiveness.
Old Testament
1/ˈoʊld tˈɛstəmənt/
fixed phrase
first main part of the Bible
The name for the first main part of the Christian Bible.
Examples
- We started our course by reading stories from the Old Testament.
- He is interested in how the Old Testament is used in modern sermons.
last will and testament
1/lˈæst wˈɪl ˈænd tˈɛstəmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
formal phrase for a will
A formal legal phrase for a document that says who gets your money and things after you die.
Examples
- He named his nephew as heir in his last will and testament.
- She updated her last will and testament after buying a house.
- Her last will and testament was signed last year.
- The lawyer advised him to prepare a last will and testament before the surgery.
- The family gathered to hear the reading of the last will and testament.