witness

n. [ AS. witness, gewitnes, from witan to know. √133. See Wit, v. i. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Attestation of a fact or an event; testimony. [ 1913 Webster ]

May we with . . . the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. John v. 31. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which furnishes evidence or proof. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laban said to Jacob, . . . This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness. Gen. xxxi. 51, 52. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon my looking round, I was witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret. R. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ] This, I confess, is haste with a witness. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To bear testimony; to give evidence; to testify. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The men of Belial witnessed against him. 1 Kings xxi. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Witnessed p. pr. & vb. n. Witnessing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To see or know by personal presence; to have direct cognizance of. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

General Washington did not live to witness the restoration of peace. Marshall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give testimony to; to testify to; to attest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold how many things they witness against thee. Mark xv. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]