这些术语均有“遗嘱”的含义。其中，will是一般用语，指遗嘱人按照法律规定的方式处分遗产或其他事务并于其死亡时发生效力的行为，其所处分的遗产既可是不动产也可以是动产[1]。testament作为“遗嘱”时有两种用法，一是为一般用语，此时其等于will; 二是和devise相对应，作为特别用语，此时它们的区别在于testament是作为“处分动产的遗嘱”（a will disposing of personal property[2])。而devise则是“处分不动产的遗嘱”（a will disposing real property[3])或指“遗嘱中处分不动产的条款” (a clause in a will disposing of property and esp. real property[4])。

[1]“An instrument, executed with the formalities of state statutes，by which a person makes a disposition of his real and personal property, to take effect after his death, and which by its own nature is ambulatory and revocable during his life time. ”Cf. Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 1102, West Publishing Co. (1991).

[2] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1484, West Group (1999).

[3] Id. at p. 463.

[4] Cf. Linda Pacard Wood, Merriam, Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 138，Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).

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