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Intestate was borrowed into English in the 14th century from Latin intestatus, which was itself formed by combining the prefix in- ("not") and the adjective testatus, meaning "having left a valid will." Testatus, in turn, derives from the past participle of the verb testari, meaning "to make a will." Approximately a century later, English speakers returned to testatus to coin the word testate, which also means "having left a valid will." Other descendants of testari in English include detest, protest, and testament, as well as testator ("a person who dies leaving a will or testament in force"). The antonym of testator is the noun intestate, meaning "one who dies without a will."
Examples of intestate in a Sentence
Branded Content Contributor, Orange County Register, 19 Nov. 2019
The laws of intestate succession typically put any children first in line, followed by parents.
—Liz Weston, latimes.com, 1 Apr. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Intestate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intestate. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
intestate
1 of 2 adjective
intestate
2 of 2 nounAdjective
Latin intestatus, from in- not + testatus testate
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