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¹witness

noun wit·ness \ˈwit-nəs\

: a person who sees something (such as a crime) happen

law : a person who makes a statement in a court about what he or she knows or has seen

: a person who is present at an event (such as a wedding) and can say that it happened

Full Definition of WITNESS

: attestation of a fact or event : testimony

: one that gives evidence; specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal

: one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place

: one who has personal knowledge of something

a : something serving as evidence or proof : sign

b : public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction <the heroic witness to divine life — Pilot>

capitalized : a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses

See witness defined for English-language learners

See witness defined for kids

Origin of WITNESS

Middle English witnesse, from Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from ²wit

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WITNESS

Synonyms: attestation, confirmation, corroboration, documentation, evidence, substantiation, testament, testimonial, testimony, validation, voucher, proof

Antonyms: disproof

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with WITNESS

fitness

²witness

verb

: to see (something) happen

law : to be present at (an event) in order to be able to say that it happened : to act as a legal witness of (something)

: to be the time or place when (something) happens

Full Definition of WITNESS

transitive verb

: to testify to : attest

: to act as legal witness of

: to furnish proof of : betoken

a : to have personal or direct cognizance of : see for oneself <witnessed the historic event>

b : to take note of <our grammar— witness our verb system—is a marvel of flexibility, variety, and exactitude — Charlton Laird>

: to constitute the scene or time of <structures … which this striking Dorset hilltop once witnessed — Times Literary Supplement>

intransitive verb

: to bear witness : testify

: to bear witness to one's religious convictions <opportunity to witness for Christ — Billy Graham>

See witness defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of WITNESS

14th century

Related to WITNESS

Synonyms: attest, authenticate, avouch, testify (to), vouch (for), certify

Synonym Discussion of WITNESS

certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something. certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal <certified that the candidate had met all requirements>. attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses <attested to the authenticity of the document>. witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness <witnessed the signing of the will>. vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person <willing to vouch for her integrity>.

WITNESS Defined for Kids