witness Hear it!

witness Definition

wit·ness (wit′nis)

noun

  1. an attesting of a fact, statement, etc.; evidence; testimony
  2. a person who saw, or can give a firsthand account of, something
  3. a person who testifies in court
  4. a person called upon to observe a transaction, signing, etc. in order to testify concerning it if it is later held in question
  5. something providing or serving as evidence

Etymology: ME witnesse < OE (ge)witnes, witness, knowledge, testimony < witan, to know: see wise & -ness

transitive verb

  1. to testify to
  2. to serve as evidence of
  3. to act as witness of, often, in proof thereof, signing a statement that one has done so
  4. to be present at; see personally
  5. to be the scene or setting of a hall that has witnessed many conventions

intransitive verb

  1. to give, or serve as, evidence; testify
  2. to testify to religious beliefs or faith

witness Idioms

bear witness

to be or give evidence; testify

witness Synonyms

witness

n.

observer, onlooker, eyewitness, spectator, bystander, deponent, testifier, beholder, signatory.

bear witness

affirm, attest, give evidence; see testify 2.

witness Synonyms

witness

v.

see, observe, be a witness, be on the scene, behold, be present, testify, vouch for, stand for, look on, say under oath, depose, be on hand.

witness Law Definition

n

v

  1. A person who gives testimony under oath and penalty of perjury in a court of law
  2. To observe the execution of a legal document and to authenticate it by affixing one’s name to it.
adverse witness
See hostile witness.
character witness
One who testifies to the reputation of another as a reliable, reputable member of the community. Character witnesses may be used to support or impugn the testimony of a key party.
expert witness
See expert.
hostile witness
One whose adverse relationship to a party may prejudice his or her testimony against that party. A person declared to be a hostile witness may be asked leading questions and may be cross-examined by the party who called him or her.
lay witness
A witness other than an expert witness.
material witness
A witness called to testify about an important or essential matter, or a matter having a logical and necessary connection to the facts under consideration.
witness Usage Examples

Object

  • incident: Kirkwall police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident.
  • collision: Police at Omagh are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them on 0845 600 8000.
  • miracle: They had witnessed miracles in response to their ministry.

Converse of object

  • bear: All of them bear witness to a glorious past, characterized by a talent for living life to the fullest.
  • intimidate: Improving the service to vulnerable or intimidated witnesses 30.
  • summon: It should also have the power to call on experts, or summon witnesses if appropriate, to help in such work.

Adjective modifier

  • credible: I just don't think he was a credible witness.
  • false: Or are they mainly called to preach what they already know, deep down, is false witness against unconformed people?
  • vulnerable: Vulnerable witnesses in particular must receive the help and support they need to feel confident and reassured about giving evidence.
  • silent: Tewkesbury Field's silent witness is more eloquent still.
  • apostolic: And the New Testament concept of faith is in accord with that: it is obedience to the apostolic witness ( Rom.
  • reliable: He was a straightforward, consistent and reliable witness.

Modifies a noun

  • statement: EVIDENCE 7.1 The trustees ' evidence should be given by witness statement.

Noun used with modifier

  • expert: The tribunal began by setting out the duty owed by an expert witness.
  • prosecution: As a prosecution witness, will I see the defendant at court?
  • 92bis: Treated as a 92bis witness with some supplementary examination.
  • eye: The reports of the accident could have been based only on eye witness accounts.
  • bear: Beauty is the quality in a painting through which the artist can ' bear witness to the Light ' .

Preposition: of

  • resurrection: Soon after Jesus ' death and resurrection, the Disciples and others began to witness of the resurrection.

Preposition: for

  • prosecution: Mr. Morgan then addressed the jury, and called several witnesses to disprove the statements made by the witnesses for the prosecution.
witness Quotes

I'm going to live through this, and when it's over, I'm nevergoing tobe hungryagain.No, noranyof my folks.If I have to steal or killöas God is my witness, I'm never going to be hungry again.

—Mitchell, Margaret

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day.

—Bible (Old Testament)

And God spake all these words, saying,Iamthe L thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that isinheaven above, or that isin the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the L thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thoushalt nottakethename of the L thy God invain; for the L will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember thesabbath day, to keep it holy. Six daysthou shalt labour and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the L thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the L made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the L blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long uponthelandwhichtheL thy Godgiveththee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

—Bible (Old Testament)

We can never have enough of nature. . . .We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.

—Thoreau, Henry David

Browse dictionary entries near witness

  1. ‹ witling
  2. ‹ witless
  3. ‹ withy
  4. ‹ withstand
  5. ‹ withoutdoors
  6. ‹ without
  7. ‹ withindoors
  8. ‹ within
  9. ‹ withholding tax
  10. ‹ withholding
  1. witness stand ›
  2. witnessed ›
  3. -witted ›
  4. Wittenberg ›
  5. Wittgenstein ›
  6. witticism ›
  7. Wittig ›
  8. witting ›
  9. wittol ›
  10. witty ›