witness

[ wit-nis ]

/ ˈwɪt nɪs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR witness ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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

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

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

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

verb (used without object)

to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.

noun

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

a person or thing that affords evidence.

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

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

testimony or evidence: to bear witness to her suffering.

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

Origin of witness

before 950; (noun) Middle English, Old English witnes orig., knowledge, understanding; see wit¹, -ness; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR witness

1 perceive, watch, mark, notice, note. See observe.

10 proof, confirmation, substantiation.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR witness ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM witness

wit·ness·a·ble, adjective wit·ness·er, noun pre·wit·ness, noun, verb (used with object) self-wit·ness, noun

self-wit·nessed, adjective well-wit·nessed, adjective

Words nearby witness

withywind, witigo, witless, witling, witloof, witness, witness box, witness corner, witness stand, witness-box, wits

Example sentences from the Web for witnessing

It was like witnessing the last two weeks of the life of a blind and toothless dog you knew the vet was just itching to destroy.

Dems, It’s Time to Dump Dixie |Michael Tomasky |December 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
More than a few joined after witnessing 9/11, and some had even experienced it firsthand in Manhattan or DC.

Bergdahl’s Bitter Homecoming: The Psychological Cost of War |Jean Kim |July 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The violence we are witnessing today is no greater in its bloody intensity than it has been throughout our history.

You, Too, Could Be a Homicidal Zealot |Joel Gold |July 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Watching the World Cup is not just about witnessing a few over-compensated superstars pulling off impressive feats.

Why the Yanks Don’t Get Futbol |Nico Hines |June 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

And after witnessing decades of discrimination, they doubt that the country is as ready for a woman president as polls say it is.

Hillary Clinton Supporters Are Divided Over Her Potential 2016 Run |David Freedlander |June 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It was something to be in a metropolitan theatre, witnessing one of the great successes of the season.

Dorothy Dale in the City |Margaret Penrose
The Rev. Jeremiah, witnessing the performance, had his curiosity aroused: "What is de word you uv writ, suh?"

Gabriel Tolliver |Joel Chandler Harris
On witnessing the signal, Oswald quickly mounts the tree, and disappears in its cavernous recesses.

The Last of the Vikings |John Bowling
It is needless to say that witnessing the ordinary slow and costly procedure would put Edison on his mettle.

Edison, His Life and Inventions |Frank Lewis Dyer and Thomas Commerford Martin
She lay there, unable to rise, the crowd laughing with as much enjoyment as if witnessing a dog-fight.

Cast Adrift |T. S. Arthur

British Dictionary definitions for witnessing

witness

/ (ˈwɪtnɪs) /

noun

a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event

a person or thing giving or serving as evidence

a person who testifies, esp in a court of law, to events or facts within his own knowledge

a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his own signature

bear witness

to give written or oral testimony
to be evidence or proof ofRelated adjective: testimonial

verb

(tr) to see, be present at, or know at first hand

to give or serve as evidence (of)

(tr) to be the scene or setting of this field has witnessed a battle

(intr) to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within a person's own knowledge

(tr) to attest to the genuineness of (a document, signature, etc) by adding one's own signature

Derived forms of witness

witnessable, adjective witnesser, noun

Word Origin for witness

Old English witnes (meaning both testimony and witness), from witan to know, wit ² + -ness; related to Old Norse vitni

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

witness

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of witness

SYNONYMS FOR witness

OTHER WORDS FROM witness

Words nearby witness

Example sentences from the Web for witnessing

British Dictionary definitions for witnessing

noun

verb

Derived forms of witness

Word Origin for witness

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

witness

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of witness

SYNONYMS FOR witness

OTHER WORDS FROM witness

Words nearby witness

Words related to witnessing

Example sentences from the Web for witnessing

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for witnessing

noun

verb

Derived forms of witness

Word Origin for witness

British Dictionary definitions for witnessing