witness

/'witnis/
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witness

A witness testifies in a courtroom.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A person who sees an event and can describe it: Someone who is present at and observes an occurrence.
    • (Law) A person who gives testimony under oath in a court of law: An individual who provides evidence or a statement about what they know regarding a case.
    • A person who attests to the authenticity of a document or signature: Someone who signs a document to confirm they saw it being signed by another party.
    • Something that serves as evidence or proof: A thing or fact that bears testimony to an event or state.

  2. Verb:

    • To see an event, typically a crime or accident, happen: To be present at and observe something occurring.
    • To give or serve as evidence of something: To show or be a sign of a particular fact or quality.
    • (Law) To testify to or provide evidence for something in a legal context: To make a formal statement about what one knows.
    • To be the time or place in which an event occurs: To be the setting or period during which something happens.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • She was the only witness to the robbery. (She was the only person who saw the robbery.)
    • The defense called its first witness to the stand. (The defense asked its first person giving testimony to come to the witness box in court.)
    • He acted as a witness when I signed the contract. (He confirmed my signature on the contract by signing it himself.)
    • The old building is a witness to the city's history. (The old building is evidence of the city's history.)

  • Verb:

    • Did anyone witness the car accident? (Did anyone see the car accident happen?)
    • Her smile witnessed her happiness. (Her smile was evidence of her happiness.)
    • The lawyer asked him to witness in court. (The lawyer asked him to give testimony in court.)
    • The 20th century witnessed incredible technological advances. (The 20th century was the period during which incredible technological advances happened.)
Advanced Usage

  • "To bear witness to": To provide clear evidence or proof of something.

    • The empty streets bore witness to the severity of the storm. (The empty streets were clear proof of how severe the storm was.)

  • "As God is my witness": A solemn oath emphasizing that one is telling the truth.

    • As God is my witness, I did not take the money. (I swear I did not take the money.)

  • "In witness whereof": A formal phrase used in legal documents, meaning "as evidence of which".

    • In witness whereof, the parties have executed this agreement. (As proof of this, the parties have signed this agreement.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Eyewitness (n): A person who has seen something happen and can give a first-hand account.
    • An eyewitness gave a detailed description to the police.
  • Witness stand (n): The place in a courtroom where a witness gives testimony.
    • The nervous witness took the witness stand.
  • Witness box (n): (Chiefly British) Another term for the witness stand.
  • Unwitnessed (adj): Not seen or observed by anyone.
    • The signing of the document was unwitnessed.
Synonyms
  • Observer (n): Someone who sees or notices something.
  • Bystander (n): A person who is present at an event but not involved.
  • Testifier (n): A person who gives testimony.
  • Attestor (n): A person who affirms or certifies something as true.
  • See (v): To observe with the eyes.
  • Observe (v): To watch carefully.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Witness to: To formally attest to the truth or existence of something.
    • I can witness to his good character. (I can formally confirm his good character.)
Related Idioms
  • Star witness: The most important witness for one side in a legal trial.
    • The prosecutor's star witness failed to appear in court.
  • Hostile witness: A witness in a trial who is testifying for the opposing side.
    • The lawyer began to cross-examine the hostile witness.
witness

A witness testifies in a courtroom.

Noun
  1. (law) a person who testifies under oath in a court of law
  2. (law) a person who attests to the genuineness of a document or signature by adding their own signature
  3. testimony by word or deed to your religious faith
  4. a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
    • the spectators applauded the performance
    • television viewers
    • sky watchers discovered a new star
  5. someone who sees an event and reports what happened
Verb
  1. perceive or be contemporaneous with
    • We found Republicans winning the offices
    • You'll see a lot of cheating in this school
    • The 1960's saw the rebellion of the younger generation against established traditions
    • I want to see results
  2. be a witness to
    • She witnessed the accident and had to testify in court

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