Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Relating to or being a will that is delivered orally to witnesses rather than written.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Pertaining to naming, nominating, vowing, or dedicating.
- In the law of wills, oral; not written; made or declared by word of mouth.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective obsolete Publicly or solemnly declaratory.
- adjective obsolete Nominal; existing only in name.
- adjective Oral; not written.
- adjective 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.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Oral ; notwritten . - adjective obsolete
Publicly orsolemnly declaratory . - adjective obsolete
Nominal ;existing only inname .
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Well, now, this terrible affair may take place before I can make my arrangements; so I will, with your permission, make a nuncupative will -- I believe _nuncupative_ is the word, but I am not sure. "
The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 Anonymous
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"It is true that under certain exceptional circumstances a man may make what is known as a nuncupative will."
By Advice of Counsel Arthur Cheney Train 1910
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I have no joke here; I just like saying "nuncupative testament."
A note to Miss Sherwood, after reading one of her novels 2008
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For another vivid example of a nuncupative will, see Narrett, “Preparation for Death,” p.
A History of American Law Lawrence M. Friedman 1985
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For another vivid example of a nuncupative will, see Narrett, “Preparation for Death,” p.
A History of American Law Lawrence M. Friedman 1985
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For another vivid example of a nuncupative will, see Narrett, “Preparation for Death,” p.
A History of American Law Lawrence M. Friedman 1985
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All was well in the kingdom, the nuncupative oozings of the Worm notwithstanding.
A Triumph of Souls Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 2000
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Jonathan's affairs required some modification of the will made in 1673, he summoned two of his townsmen to hear his nuncupative codicil to that document.
The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 5, February, 1885 Various
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Will you allow me to write down this confession over your own signature, lest a nuncupative testimony be not sufficient to condemn him.
Honor Edgeworth Ottawa's Present Tense [pseud.] Vera
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Painter, who appears, from its being nuncupative, to have deferred making it, until a speedy dissolution was expected.
The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 William Painter
bestiary commented on the word nuncupative
a way to say "oral, not written" without saying "oral." also (obs.): nominal, existing only in name; publicly or solemnly declaratory.
July 26, 2008
qms commented on the word nuncupative
The old man despised daughter Beth
So left her bereft at his death,
And even nuncupative
His will was vituperative,
To wound her with his dying breath.
November 21, 2017