Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Witness
1.
Attestation of a fact or an event; testimony.
May we with . . . the
witness
of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge? Shakespeare
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;
“Thyself art witness I am betrothed.” as, an eye
. witness
; an earwitness
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.
Wit′ness
,Verb.
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 deedWit′ness
,Verb.
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 1828 Edition
Witness
WITNESS
,Noun.
1.
Testimony; attestation of a fact or event.If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. John 5.
2.
That which furnishes evidence or proof.Laban said, this heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Genesis 31.
3.
A person who knows or sees any thing; one personally present; as, he was witness; he was an eye-witness. 1 Peter 5.4.
One who sees the execution of an instrument, and subscribes it for the purpose of confirming its authenticity b his testimony.5.
One who gives testimony; as, the witnesses in court agreed in all essential facts.With a witness, effectually; to a great degree; with great force, so as to leave some mark as a testimony behind. He struck with a witness. [Not elegant.]
WITNESS
,Verb.
T.
1.
To see or know by personal presence. I witnessed the ceremonies in New York, with which the ratification of the constitution was celebrated, in 1788.2.
To attest; to give testimony to; to testify to something.Behold, how many things they witness against thee. Mark 15.
3.
To see the execution of an instrument, and subscribe it for the purpose of establishing its authenticity; as, to witness a bond or a deed.WITNESS
,Verb.
I.
1.
To bear testimony.The men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth. 1 Kings 21.
2.
To give evidence.The shew of their countenance doth witness against them. Isaiah 3.