Definition of "witness"

witness

/ˈwɪtnəs/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural witnesses
1. (uncountable) Attestation of a fact or event; testimony.
  Quotations
  May we, with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge?
  c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]
  We have as much witness from heaven as we need.
  1959, Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of holy scripture‎, volume 6
  On another corner, stands an old style tenement building, whose dirty grey facade bears as much witness to the volume of exhaust fumes from millions of passing cars as it does to the age of the dwelling.
  1999, Nettie Becker, Paul Becker, A Comprehensive Guide for Caregivers in Day-care Settings‎
  Nor do the formation and articulation of such knowledge themselves bear much witness to Geist.
  2002, Charles E. Scott, The Lives of Things‎, page 125
  Fleeing is giving witness, and those that plead against it are loath to give so much witness
  2008, Jeremiah Burroughs, C. Matthew McMahon, Therese B. McMahon, The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times‎, page 100
  Ob. 16 can show that every nation will get at least this much witness
  2014, James Tarter, God's Word to the United States: The Book of Obadiah‎
2. (countable) One who sees or has personal knowledge of something.
  Quotations
  […] thyself art witness— I am betrothed.
  c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]
  Upon my looking round, I was a witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret.
  c. 1786, Robert Hall, A Reverie
3. (countable, law) Someone called to give evidence in a court.
  Quotations
  From the evidence of witnesses and of the recorded passing times, including the time at which the circuit breakers were tripped when the wires were brought down, the train was travelling at a speed of not less than 70 m.p.h.
  1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652
4. (countable) One who is called upon to witness an event or action, such as a wedding or the signing of a document.
5. (countable) Something that serves as evidence; a sign or token.
  Quotations
  Laban said to Jacob, […] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Genesis 31:51-52
verb
third-person singular simple present witnesses, present participle witnessing, simple past and past participle witnessed
1. (transitive) To furnish proof of, to show.
  Quotations
  round he throws his baleful eyes / That witness'd huge affliction and dismay
  1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 56-57
2. (transitive) To take as evidence.
  Quotations
  Depression often goes undetected until it is too late . Witness the recent White House suicide.
  1993, Vicki M. Pino, “Viewpoints from our Readers after "Aprongate": Lighten up”, in Atlanta Journal Constitution
3. (transitive) To see or gain knowledge of through experience.
  Quotations
  This is but a faint sketch of the incalculable calamities and horrors we must expect, should we be so unfortunate as ever to witness the triumph of modern infidelity
  1801, Robert Hall, On Modern Infidelity
  General Washington did not live to witness the restoration of peace.
  1803, John Marshall, The Life of George Washington
4. (intransitive, construed with to or for) To present personal religious testimony; to preach at (someone) or on behalf of.
  Quotations
  Instead, Niebuhr's God was the God witnessed to in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, the Bible of the Christian world.
  1998, Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, volume 6, "Niebuhr, Reinhold", page 842
5. To see the execution of (a legal instrument), and subscribe it for the purpose of establishing its authenticity.

Definition of "witness"

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