witness

wit|ness¹ W3S2 [ˈwıtnıs] n

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1¦(crime/accident)¦

2¦(in a court of law)¦

3¦(signing a document)¦

4 be witness to something

5¦(christian belief)¦

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[: Old English; Origin: witnes 'knowledge, account, witness', from wit; WIT]

1.) ¦(CRIME/ACCIDENT)¦

someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened

▪ Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

witness to

▪ One witness to the accident said the driver appeared to be drunk.

▪ an eye witness (=someone who sees an event) to the robbery

→↑eyewitness

2.) ¦(IN A COURT OF LAW)¦

someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other event

key/star/principal witness

▪ the key witness in the case against the brothers

▪ The defense is expected to call them as witnesses .

witness for the prosecution/defence also prosecution/defence witness

(=someone the prosecution or defence lawyers choose as a witness in order to help prove their case)

→↑expert witness

3.) ¦(SIGNING A DOCUMENT)¦

someone who is present when an official document is signed, and who signs it too, to say that they saw it being signed

witness to

▪ a witness to a will

4.) be witness to sth

formal to be present when something happens, and watch it happening

▪ We were witness to the worst excesses of the military.

5.) ¦(CHRISTIAN BELIEF)¦ [U and C]

AmE a public statement of strong Christian belief, or someone who makes such a statement

→bear witness at ↑bear¹ (15)

witness ²

witness² v

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1¦(crime/accident)¦

2¦(experience something)¦

3¦(time/place)¦

4¦(official document)¦

5 witness something

6¦(religion)¦

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1.) ¦(CRIME/ACCIDENT)¦ [T]

to see something happen, especially a crime or accident

▪ Several residents claim to have witnessed the attack.

2.) ¦(EXPERIENCE SOMETHING)¦ [T]

to experience important events or changes

▪ Priests have witnessed an increase in religious intolerance.

3.) ¦(TIME/PLACE)¦ [T]

if a time or place witnesses an event, the event happens during that time or in that place

▪ Recent years have witnessed the collapse of the steel industry.

4.) ¦(OFFICIAL DOCUMENT)¦ [T]

if you witness the signing of an official document, you are there when it is signed, and sign it yourself to prove this

▪ Will you witness my signature ?

5.) witness sth also ..., as witnessed by sth

used to introduce an example that proves something you have just mentioned

▪ Bad economic times can result in political dictatorships. Witness Germany in the 1930s.

6.) ¦(RELIGION)¦ [I]

to speak publicly about your Christian beliefs