witness definition | Dictionary.com

wit⋅ness

[wit-nis]

–verb (used with object)

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

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

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

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

–verb (used without object)

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

–noun

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

7.	a person or thing that affords evidence.

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

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

10.	testimony or evidence: to bear witness to her suffering.

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

Origin:
bef. 950; (n.) ME, OE witnes orig., knowledge, understanding; see wit ¹ , -ness; (v.) ME, deriv. of the n.

Related forms:

wit⋅ness⋅a⋅ble, adjective

wit⋅ness⋅er, noun

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To witness

wit·ness (wĭt'nĭs)

1. One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced: a witness to the accident.
2. One who furnishes evidence.
3. One who is called on to testify before a court.
4. One who is called on to be present at a transaction in order to attest to what takes place.
5. One who signs one's name to a document for the purpose of attesting to its authenticity.
6. One who publicly affirms religious faith.
7. Witness A member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Something that serves as evidence; a sign.
Law
1. One who is called on to testify before a court.
2. One who is called on to be present at a transaction in order to attest to what takes place.
3. One who signs one's name to a document for the purpose of attesting to its authenticity.
4. One who publicly affirms religious faith.
5. Witness A member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
An attestation to a fact, statement, or event; testimony.
1. One who publicly affirms religious faith.
2. Witness A member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

v. wit·nessed, wit·ness·ing, wit·ness·es

v. tr.

1. To be present at or have personal knowledge of.
2. To take note of; observe.
To provide or serve as evidence of. See Synonyms at indicate.
To testify to; bear witness.
To be the setting or site of: This old auditorium has witnessed many ceremonies.
To attest to the legality or authenticity of by signing one's name to.

v. intr.

To furnish or serve as evidence; testify.
To testify to one's religious beliefs.

[Middle English, from Old English, from wit, knowledge; see wit¹.]
wit'ness·er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Witness

Wit"ness\, n. [AS. witness, gewitnes, from witan to know. [root]133. See Wit, v. i.]

1. Attestation of a fact or an event; testimony.

May we with . . . the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge? --Shak.

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. --John v. 31.

2. That which furnishes evidence or proof.

Laban said to Jacob, . . . This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness. --Gen. xxxi. 51, 52.

3. One who is cognizant; a person who beholds, or otherwise has personal knowledge of, anything; as, an eyewitness; an earwitness. "Thyself art witness I am betrothed." --Shak.

Upon my looking round, I was witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret. --R. Hall.

4. (Law) (a) One who testifies in a cause, or gives evidence before a judicial tribunal; as, the witness in court agreed in all essential facts. (b) One who sees the execution of an instrument, and subscribes it for the purpose of confirming its authenticity by his testimony; one who witnesses a will, a deed, a marriage, or the like.

Privileged witnesses. (Law) See under Privileged.

With a witness, effectually; to a great degree; with great force, so as to leave some mark as a testimony. [Colloq.]

This, I confess, is haste with a witness. --South.

Witness

Wit"ness\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Witnessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Witnessing.]

1. To see or know by personal presence; to have direct cognizance of.

This is but a faint sketch of the incalculable calamities and horrors we must expect, should we ever witness the triumphs of modern infidelity. --R. Hall.

General Washington did not live to witness the restoration of peace. --Marshall.

2. To give testimony to; to testify to; to attest.

Behold how many things they witness against thee. --Mark xv. 4.

3. (Law) To see the execution of, as an instrument, and subscribe it for the purpose of establishing its authenticity; as, to witness a bond or a deed.

Witness

Wit"ness\, v. i. To bear testimony; to give evidence; to testify. --Chaucer.

The men of Belial witnessed against him. --1 Kings xxi. 13.

The witnessing of the truth was then so generally attended with this event [martyrdom] that martyrdom now signifies not only to witness, but to witness to death. --South.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : witness

Spanish: testigo,

German: der Zeuge, *die Zeugin,

Japanese: 目撃者

More Translations »

witness

O.E. witnes "attestation of fact, event, etc., from personal knowledge;" also "one who so testifies;" originally "knowledge, wit," formed from wit (n.) + -ness. The verb is c.1300, from the noun. Christian use (1382) is as a lit. translation of Gk. martys (see martyr). Witness stand is recorded from 1853.

Main Entry: wit·ness
Function: noun
Etymology: Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from wit mind, sense, knowledge
1 a : attestation of a fact or event witness whereof the parties have executed this release> b : evidence (as of the authenticity of a conveyance by deed) furnished by signature, oath, or seal
2 : one who gives evidence regarding matters of fact under inquiry; specifically : one who testifies or is legally qualified to testify in a case or to give evidence before a judicial tribunal or similar inquiry witness before a congressional committee> witness against himself —U.S. Constitution amendment V> —compare AFFIANT, DEPONENT

adverse witness
: a witness who is called by or associated with an opposing party or who by statement, conduct, or other evidence (as of relationship) shows bias against or is injurious to the case of the party by whom the witness is called adverse witness subject to impeachment> called also hostile witness —see also leading question at QUESTION 1

alibi witness
: a witness upon whom a criminal defendant relies in establishing an alibi

char·ac·ter witness
: a witness who testifies as to the character or reputation esp. of a criminal defendant : a witness who gives character evidence

expert witness
: a witness (as a medical specialist) who by virtue of special knowledge, skill, training, or experience is qualified to provide testimony to aid the factfinder in matters that exceed the common knowledge of ordinary people

hostile witness
: ADVERSE WITNESS in this entry

lay witness
: a witness who is not an expert witness

material witness
: a witness whose testimony is necessary for trial and whose presence may sometimes be secured by the state by subpoena, custody, or recognizance

prosecuting witness
: a witness (as the victim of a crime) whose own allegations initiate the prosecution of the defendant

qualified witness
: a witness who has sufficient understanding of a record-keeping system to provide testimony that forms the proper foundation for admission of evidence under the business records exception to the hearsay rule

rebuttal witness
: a witness called upon to rebut evidence already presented
3 : one who is called on to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its occurrence; specifically : one who sees the execution of an instrument and signs it to confirm its authenticity witness to a will>
4 : EYEWITNESS witness to an assault>—bear witness : to furnish or constitute proof or evidence

Main Entry: witness
Function: transitive verb
1 : to furnish evidence or proof of
2 : to act as witness of: as a : to see the execution of (an instrument) and sign for the purpose of establishing authenticity <witness a will> b : to be formally present as a witness of (as a transaction or the execution of a convict)
3 a : to see or experience directly b : to take note of intransitive verb : to bear witness : give evidence

Main Entry: witness
Function: adjective
: being an object or location used to ascertain a precise boundary point esp. on a corner of a tract when marking that point itself is impracticable or impossible witness tree> witness corner>

Witness

More than one witness was required in criminal cases (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). They were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deut. 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matt. 27:1; Acts 7:57, 58). False witnesses were liable to punishment (Deut. 19:16-21). It was also an offence to refuse to bear witness (Lev. 5:1).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Samaritan or Killer?
Witness blamed for not doing enough to help injured man. Do you agree?

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