witness
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈwɪtnəs/
ipa: /ˈwɪtnɪs/
rhymes: -ɪtnəs
rhymes: -ɪtnɪs
Forms: form: witnesses
form: witnesse
form: witneße
Etymology: From Middle English witnesse, from Old English ġewitnes, equivalent to wit + -ness. Cognate with Middle Dutch wetenisse (“witness, testimony”), Old High German gewiznessi (“testimony”), Icelandic vitni (“witness”).
Senses: examples: text: She can bear witness, since she was there at the time.
text: May we, with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge?
ref: 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, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
text: We have as much witness from heaven as we need.
ref: 1959, Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of holy scripture, volume 6:
text: 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.
ref: 1999, Nettie Becker, Paul Becker, A Comprehensive Guide for Caregivers in Day-care Settings:
text: Nor do the formation and articulation of such knowledge themselves bear much witness to Geist.
ref: 2002, Charles E. Scott, The Lives of Things, page 125:
text: Fleeing is giving witness, and those that plead against it are loath to give so much witness
ref: 2008, Jeremiah Burroughs, C. Matthew McMahon, Therese B. McMahon, The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, page 100:
text: Ob. 16 can show that every nation will get at least this much witness
ref: 2014, James Tarter, God's Word to the United States: The Book of Obadiah:
glosses: Attestation of a fact or event; testimony.
examples: text: As a witness to the event, I can confirm that he really said that.
text: […]thyself art witness— I am betrothed.
ref: 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, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
text: Upon my looking round, I was a witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret.
ref: c. 1786, Robert Hall, A Reverie:
glosses: One who sees or has personal knowledge of something.
examples: text: The witness for the prosecution did not seem very credible.
text: 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.
ref: 1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652:
topics: law
glosses: Someone called to give evidence in a court.
examples: text: The bridesmaid and best man at a wedding typically serve as the witnesses.
glosses: One who is called upon to witness an event or action, such as a wedding or the signing of a document.
examples: text: Laban said to Jacob, […] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 31:51-52:
glosses: Something that serves as evidence; a sign or token.
Derived terms: adverse witness
bear false witness
bear witness
character witness
crown witness
expert witness
eye witness
eye-witness
eyewitness
fact witness
false witness
foundational witness
hostile witness
in witness whereof
Jehovah's witness
Jehovah's Witness
material witness
may God be my witness
star witness
turncoat witness
witness box
witness cam
witness camera
witness-consciousness
witness mark
witness protection
witness stand
witness tampering
zealous witness