witness

[wit-nis]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR witness ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception: to witness an accident.

to be present at (an occurrence) as a formal witness, spectator, bystander, etc.: She witnessed our wedding.

to bear witness to; testify to; give or afford evidence of.

to attest by one's signature: He witnessed her will.

verb (used without object)

to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.

noun

an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness.

a person or thing that affords evidence.

a person who gives testimony, as in a court of law.

a person who signs a document attesting the genuineness of its execution.

testimony or evidence: to bear witness to her suffering.

(initial capital letter) a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Origin of witness

before 950; (noun) Middle English, Old English witnes orig., knowledge, understanding; see wit¹, -ness; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun

Related formswit·ness·a·ble, adjectivewit·ness·er, nounpre·wit·ness, noun, verb (used with object)self-wit·ness, nounself-wit·nessed, adjectivewell-wit·nessed, adjective

Synonyms for witness

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR witness ON THESAURUS.COM

1. perceive, watch, mark, notice, note. See observe. 10. proof, confirmation, substantiation.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for witness

bystander, spectator, observer, eyewitness, testimony, notice, attend, watch, mark, note, see, announce, indicate, deponent, viewer, beholder, watcher, proof, signer, testifier

Examples from the Web for witness

Contemporary Examples of witness

One witness said the gunfire began after a traffic collision, which drew the attention of a nearby police officer.
France Mourns—and Hunts
Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey
January 8, 2015
The mother, Emily Kruse, was charged with obstructing justice and intimidating a witness.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking
Tina Traster
December 30, 2014
“The senior people were too shocked to speak,” said a witness.
Facebook Prince Purges The New Republic: Inside the Destruction of a 100-Year-Old Magazine
Lloyd Grove
December 5, 2014
At least one witness stated that Brown was surrendering with his hands in the air when he was shot.
Why Darren Wilson Will Walk
Dean Obeidallah
November 22, 2014
Nancy heard the shot, then another, and came to the window to witness the third and final bullet be fired into her husband.
Foxcatcher’s Real-Life Psycho Killer
Marlow Stern
November 18, 2014

Historical Examples of witness

Avice Milbrey had the fortune to witness one of these bed-time causeries.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
The reverential care bestowed on this grave is delightful to witness.
The Roof of France
Matilda Betham-Edwards
And then, as if they had been on the witness stand, he looked searchingly at Linda.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
Same tone as if trying his best to encourage the witness in his statements.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
Have done and witness, then go, order me horses and an escort, for I ride at once.
Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for witness

witness

noun

a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event

a person or thing giving or serving as evidence

a person who testifies, esp in a court of law, to events or facts within his own knowledge

a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his own signature

bear witness

to give written or oral testimony
to be evidence or proof ofRelated adjective: testimonial

verb

(tr) to see, be present at, or know at first hand

to give or serve as evidence (of)

(tr) to be the scene or setting ofthis field has witnessed a battle

(intr) to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within a person's own knowledge

(tr) to attest to the genuineness of (a document, signature, etc) by adding one's own signature

Derived Formswitnessable, adjectivewitnesser, noun

Word Origin for witness

Old English witnes (meaning both testimony and witness), from witan to know, wit ² + -ness; related to Old Norse vitni

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for witness

Old English witnes "attestation of fact, event, etc., from personal knowledge;" also "one who so testifies;" originally "knowledge, wit," formed from wit (n.) + -ness. Christian use (late 14c.) is as a literal translation of Greek martys (see martyr). Witness stand is recorded from 1853.

c.1300, from witness (n.). Related: Witnessed; witnessing.