Bequeathal is a very interesting word. It comes from the Middle English biquethen, which comes from the Old English becwethan, which is formed with the root be and the verb cwethan. Cwethan means to say, and it also gives us the word “quote,” from “quoth”. The prefix be can mean one of three things: thoroughly, to make or seem, and to provide with. So literally the word bequeathal means to make said, or to provide with saying. This makes sense because when something is bequeathed, it is made said, usually in legal terms.

To commemorate a bequeathal, bronze plaques are used. Sometimes other kinds of memorial plaques, like a Tree of Life or Donor Walls are used, but, coming full circle, the point of these bronze plaques is to show what has been said. In a way, donor plaques bequeath bequeathals.

Donor walls are standard forms of commemorating bequeathals, in that they do honor to the gift that has been presented. If there were no donor plaques, it would be equivalent to not recognizing that a gift has been given, in a way, denying the existence of the gift, or at least not saying thank you. So say thanks, and buy bronze plaques to commemorate your bequeathals.