[ad. L. testātiōn-em, n. of action f. testārī (-āre): see TESTATE a. Cf. obs. F. testacion (1416th c. in Godef.).]
† 1. Attestation, testimony. Obs.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. II. xxix. A true testation of the souls utter independency On this poor crasie Corse.
1646. Bp. Hall, Satans Fiery Darts Quenched, I. Wks. 1863, VII. 197 (R.). How clear a testation have the inspired prophets of God given of old to this truth!
1656. in Blount, Glossogr.
2. The disposal of property by will.
1832. Gen. P. Thompson, in Westm. Rev., April, 298. That the right of testation is, primâ facie, nothing but an extension of the simple right of disposition, to the doing in a convenient way what must otherwise be done in an inconvenient one.
1861. Maine, Anc. Law, vi. 196. It is doubtful whether a true power of testation was known to any original society except the Roman.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., viii. 343.