c.1290, "last will disposing of property," from L.
testamentum "a will, publication of a will," from
testari "make a will, be witness to," from
testis "witness," from PIE
*tris- "three," on the notion of "third person, disinterested witness." Use in reference to the two divisions of the Bible (c.1300) is from L.L.
vetus testamentum and
novum testamentum, loan-translations of Gk.
palaia diatheke and
kaine diatheke. L.L.
testamentum in this case was a mistranslation of Gk.
diatheke, which meant both "covenant, dispensation" and "will, testament," and was used in the former sense in the account of the Last Supper (see
testimony) but subsequently was interpreted as Christ's "last will."