Etymology

Old Testament

Today it means: Reminiscent of the content of the Old Testament, or of the behavior of God in it; especially dramatic, violent or vengeful. Full definition →

Middle English Olde Testament ← Latin Vetus Testāmentum
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromVetus Testāmentum
  2. Middle English · inherited fromOlde Testament
  3. English todayOld Testament

From Middle English Olde Testament, calqued from Latin Vetus Testāmentum. Old refers to ancientness, not to obsolescence. Equivalent to a retronym, by comparison with the New Testament.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.