witness

She can bear witness, since she was there at the time.

May we, with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge?

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

We have as much witness from heaven as we need.

1959, Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of holy scripture, volume 6:

On another corner, stands an old style tenement building, whose dirty grey facade bears as much witness to the volume of exhaust fumes from millions of passing cars as it does to the age of the dwelling.

1999, Nettie Becker, Paul Becker, A Comprehensive Guide for Caregivers in Day-care Settings:

Nor do the formation and articulation of such knowledge themselves bear much witness to Geist.

2002, Charles E. Scott, The Lives of Things, page 125:

Fleeing is giving witness, and those that plead against it are loath to give so much witness

2008, Jeremiah Burroughs, C. Matthew McMahon, Therese B. McMahon, The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, page 100:

Ob. 16 can show that every nation will get at least this much witness

2014, James Tarter, God's Word to the United States: The Book of Obadiah:

(uncountable) Attestation of a fact or event; testimony.

As a witness to the event, I can confirm that he really said that.

[…]thyself art witness— I am betrothed.

c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

Upon my looking round, I was a witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret.

(countable) One who sees or has personal knowledge of something.

The witness for the prosecution did not seem very credible.

From the evidence of witnesses and of the recorded passing times, including the time at which the circuit breakers were tripped when the wires were brought down, the train was travelling at a speed of not less than 70 m.p.h.

1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652:

(countable, law) Someone called to give evidence in a court.

The bridesmaid and best man at a wedding typically serve as the witnesses.

(countable) One who is called upon to witness an event or action, such as a wedding or the signing of a document.

Laban said to Jacob, […] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 31:51-52:

(countable) Something that serves as evidence; a sign or token.

en-noun

witness (countable and uncountable, plural witnesses)

getuie

one who has a personal knowledge of something

getuie

someone called to give evidence in a court

понята́я

someone who is present at and signs the report of a police search

From Middle English witnesse, from Old English ġewitnes, equivalent to wit + -ness. Cognate with Middle Dutch wetenisse (“witness, testimony”), Old High German gewiznessi (“testimony”), Icelandic vitni (“witness”).


witness

This certificate witnesses his presence on that day.

round he throws his baleful eyes / That witness'd huge affliction and dismay

1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 56-57:

(transitive) To furnish proof of, to show.

Depression often goes undetected until it is too late . Witness the recent White House suicide.

1993, Vicki M. Pino, “Viewpoints from our Readers after "Aprongate": Lighten up”, in Atlanta Journal Constitution:

He witnessed the accident.

This is but a faint sketch of the incalculable calamities and horrors we must expect, should we be so unfortunate as ever to witness the triumph of modern infidelity

1801, Robert Hall, On Modern Infidelity:

General Washington did not live to witness the restoration of peace.

1803, John Marshall, The Life of George Washington:

(transitive) To see or gain knowledge of through experience.

Instead, Niebuhr's God was the God witnessed to in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, the Bible of the Christian world.

1998, Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, volume 6, "Niebuhr, Reinhold", page 842:

(intransitive, construed with to or for) To present personal religious testimony; to preach at (someone) or on behalf of.

to witness a bond or a deed

To see the execution of (a legal instrument), and subscribe it for the purpose of establishing its authenticity.

en-verb

witness (third-person singular simple present witnesses, present participle witnessing, simple past and past participle witnessed)

witnesses (present singular third-person)
witnessing (participle present)
witnessed (participle past)
witnessed (past)

شَهِدَ

(transitive) to see or gain knowledge of through experience

testificar

(intransitive) to preach presenting personal testimony