unwitnessed

[uhn-wit-nist]

adjective

1. lacking the signature of a witness.

   an unwitnessed legal document.

2. not perceived by the senses; not noticed or observed.

   unwitnessed everyday occurrences.

unwitnessed

/ ʌnˈwɪtnɪst /

adjective

1. without the signature or attestation of a witness

2. not seen or observed

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwitnessed¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; un- ¹, witness, -ed ²

Example Sentences

Karen Staniland's mother Eileen died after an unwitnessed fall in her room at Broadland View care home in Norwich in 2020, while a staff member who was supposed to be looking after her slept on duty.

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Matt Primomo died of injuries sustained in an “unwitnessed fall” from Icicle Buttress, according to Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris.

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He explains the two types of cardiac arrest—witnessed and unwitnessed—and gives recommendations accordingly: Given that I’m healthy, if I go into cardiac arrest and there are witnesses, I likely want people to do anything they can to resuscitate me.

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In the case of an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, CPR likely wouldn’t be beneficial.

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“If my cardiac arrest is unwitnessed, with a perceived prolonged downtime and signs of death, there is to be No Trial of CPR.”

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