witness

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English witnes

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Singular
witness

Plural
witnesses

witness (plural witnesses)

  1. Attestation of a fact or event.
    She can bear witness, since she was there at the time.
  2. One who has a personal knowledge of something.
    As a witness to the event, I can tell you that he really said that.
  3. Someone called to give evidence in a court.
    The witness for the prosecution did not seem very credible.

[edit] Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to witness

Third person singular
witnesses

Simple past
witnessed

Past participle
witnessed

Present participle
witnessing

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

  1. (transitive) To furnish proof of, to show.
    This certificate witnesses his presence on that day.
    • 1667: round he throws his baleful eyes / That witness'd huge affliction and dismay — John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1 ll. 56-7
  2. (transitive) To take note of.
    Witness the lack of growth despite his efforts.
  3. (transitive) To see, note, or gain knowledge of.
    He witnessed the accident.
  4. (intransitive, construed with to) To preach at someone.
    "I don't really want to be actively harrassed (I mean witnessed to) (...)"[1]

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] References

Raising children with a Christian (and extended fam)

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