Nuncupative - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

nun·cu·pa·tive

Audio Help [nuhng-kyuh-pey-tiv, nuhng-kyoo-puh-tiv] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

(esp. of a will) oral; not written.

[Origin: 1540–50; < ML (testāmentum) nuncupātīvum oral (will), neut. of LL nuncupātīvus so-called, nominal, equiv. to L nuncupāt(us) ptp. of nuncupāre to state formally, utter the name of (prob. < *nōmicupāre, deriv. of *nōmiceps one taking a name, equiv. to *nōmi- comb. form of nōmen name + -ceps taking, possessing; see prince) + -īvus -ive

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Nuncupative

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nun·cu·pa·tive Audio Help (nŭn'kyə-pā'tĭv, nŭng'-, nŭn-kyōō'pə-tĭv) Pronunciation Key
adj. Law
Delivered orally to witnesses rather than written: a nuncupative will.

[Medieval Latin nūncupātīvus, from Late Latin, so-called, from Latin nūncupātus, past participle of nūncupāre, to name : nōmen, name; see n-men- in Indo-European roots + capere, to take; see kap- in Indo-European roots.]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nuncupative

Nun*cu"pa*tive\, a. [L. nuncupativus nominal: cf. F. nuncupatif.]

1. Publicly or solemnly declaratory. [Obs.]

2. Nominal; existing only in name. [Obs.]

3. Oral; not written.

Nuncupative will or testament, a will or testament made by word of mouth only, before witnesses, as by a soldier or seaman, and depending on oral testimony for proof. --Blackstone.

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