witness
witness definition
wit·ness (wit′nis)
noun
- an attesting of a fact, statement, etc.; evidence; testimony
- a person who saw, or can give a firsthand account of, something
- a person who testifies in court
- a person called upon to observe a transaction, signing, etc. in order to testify concerning it if it is later held in question
- something providing or serving as evidence
Etymology: ME witnesse < OE (ge)witnes, witness, knowledge, testimony < witan, to know: see wise & -ness
transitive verb
- to testify to
- to serve as evidence of
- to act as witness of, often, in proof thereof, signing a statement that one has done so
- to be present at; see personally
- to be the scene or setting of a hall that has witnessed many conventions
intransitive verb
- to give, or serve as, evidence; testify
- to testify to religious beliefs or faith
witness Idioms
bear witness
to be or give evidence; testify
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