witness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈwɪt.nəs/ General American, Australia, weak vowel merger
- /ˈwɪt.nɪs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation) without weak vowel merger
Etymology
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”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) Attestation of a fact or event; testimony.
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: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: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:We have as much witness from heaven as we need.
1959, Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of holy scripture, volume 6:She can bear witness, since she was there at the time.
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: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]:
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(countable) One who sees or has personal knowledge of something.
[…]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]:Joolby saw that Mr. Bronsky had looked in by another door and been a witness of the last stage of the quarrel
1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:As a witness to the event, I can confirm that he really said that.
Upon my looking round, I was a witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret.
c. 1786, Robert Hall, A Reverie:
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(countable) Someone called to give evidence in a court.
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:The witness for the prosecution did not seem very credible.
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(countable) One who is called upon to witness an event or action, such as a wedding or the signing of a document.
The bridesmaid and best man at a wedding typically serve as the witnesses.
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(countable) Something that serves as evidence; a sign or token.
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:
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(countable, uncountable) A particular version of a text (seen as providing testimony of archetype or other earlier version)
Yet there are extremely few, if any, cases of preserved autographs, and textual witnesses (manuscripts) rather distant in time from the creation of the texts are the norm.
2020, Alessandro Bausi, “7.5 Philological practices: Ethiopic”, in Philipp Roelli, editor, Handbook of Stemmatology: History, Methodology, Digital Approaches, De Gruyter, →DOI, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 481:
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(countable) An additional database server instance used in failover scenarios to decide whether the mirror should take over.
Automatic failover requires a witness, either a file share or a SQL Server witness (SQL Server Express may be used as a witness).
2016, Vlad Catrinescu, Trevor Seward, Deploying SharePoint 2016 (page 350)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| witnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| witnesse | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| witneße | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
witness cam · witness-consciousness · witness protection · witness box · bear false witness · material witness · crown witness · witness tampering · character witness · turncoat witness · bear witness · foundational witness · eye-witness · Jehovah's witness · witness mark · eye witness · zealous witness · witness stand · star witness · fact witness · false witness · Jehovah's Witness · witness cone · witness camera · eyewitness · in witness whereof · adverse witness · hostile witness · expert witness · may God be my witness
Translations (314)
cmn 證人 /证人 (attestation of a fact or event) · mr साक्षीदार (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cmn 證人 /证人 (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَهِيدَة (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · grc μάρτυς (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ca testimoni (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hi साक्ष्य (attestation of a fact or event) · bg свиде́тел (someone called to give evidence in a court) · pt testemunha (someone called to give evidence in a court) · kmr guwah (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sk svedok (someone called to give evidence in a court) · es prueba (something that serves as evidence) · fur testimone (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · nl getuigenis (attestation of a fact or event) · ug گۇۋاھچى (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · arz شاهد (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ur شاہد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh свјѐдок (someone called to give evidence in a court) · nn vitne (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ga finné (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ja 証人 (someone called to give evidence in a court) · th สักขี (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · uk доказ (something that serves as evidence) · de Zeuge (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hy վկայություն (attestation of a fact or event) · ru понята́я (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh svjèdok (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tr tanıklık (attestation of a fact or event) · ur گواہ (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ru очеви́дец (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cs svědkyně (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ky күбө (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fi todistaja (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ca evidència (something that serves as evidence) · sl dokaz (something that serves as evidence) · cy tyst (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ee ɖaseɖiɖi (attestation of a fact or event) · uk сві́дчий (someone called to give evidence in a court) · pt prova (something that serves as evidence) · be све́дка (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · be відаво́чца (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ka მოწმე (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ar شَاهِد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ca testimoniatge (attestation of a fact or event) · sk svedkyňa (someone called to give evidence in a court) · bg свиде́телство (attestation of a fact or event) · zza şahid (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ca testimoni (attestation of a fact or event) · sh svjedòkinja (someone called to give evidence in a court) · mk сведок (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ur گواہ (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · bg свиде́телка (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · af getuie (someone called to give evidence in a court) · es testimonio (attestation of a fact or event) · sw shahidi (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tt шаһит (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَوَاهِد (something that serves as evidence) · ms saksi (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sk svedkyňa (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hu tanú (someone called to give evidence in a court) · my သက်သေ (someone called to give evidence in a court) · vec testimònio (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh svèdok (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hi साक्ष्य (something that serves as evidence) · ba шаһит (someone called to give evidence in a court) · jv seksi (someone called to give evidence in a court) · mi kaitaunaki (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَاهِدَة (someone called to give evidence in a court) · he עֵד (someone called to give evidence in a court) · tr şahit (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tr tanık (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · kk куәгер (someone called to give evidence in a court) · pt testemunha (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cs svědectví (attestation of a fact or event) · lo ສັກຂີ (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ba шаһит (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · km កសិណសាក្សី (someone called to give evidence in a court) · kk куә (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fa گواه (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ee ɖasedila (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ko 목격자 (someone called to give evidence in a court) · az tanıq (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ota شاهد (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sw shahidi (someone called to give evidence in a court) · mi kaititiro (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · mk сведок (someone called to give evidence in a court) · be пасьве́дчаньне (attestation of a fact or event) · ang ġewitnes (attestation of a fact or event) · uz shohid (someone called to give evidence in a court) · de Zeugin (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ur شاہد (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ceb saksi (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَهِيد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · xag 𐔰𐕄𐔰𐔾 (attestation of a fact or event) · fr témoignage (attestation of a fact or event) · ota شاهدلك (attestation of a fact or event) · az tanıq (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · mn гэрч (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · izh näkkiäsmees (someone called to give evidence in a court) · tr tanık (someone called to give evidence in a court) · gd neach-fianais (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ro martor (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hu tanúság (attestation of a fact or event) · ug گۇۋاھچى (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ro martoră (someone called to give evidence in a court) · bg све́док (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · nl getuige (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fr témoin (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hy ականատես (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh svedočánstvo (attestation of a fact or event) · hu fültanú (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · lo ພະຍານ (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · da vidne (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hu szemtanú (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · uk сві́док (someone called to give evidence in a court) · bg све́док (someone called to give evidence in a court) · az şahid (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · id saksi (attestation of a fact or event) · bn সাক্ষী (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ka მოწმე (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hi गवाह (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh свѐдок (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · es testigo (something that serves as evidence) · sh свјѐдок (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hi गवाही (attestation of a fact or event) · bg свиде́телка (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ang ġewita (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ga fianaise (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh свједо̀киња (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ps ګواه (someone called to give evidence in a court) · tg гувоҳ (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cmn 證人 /证人 (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · bg очеви́дец (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fi todistus (attestation of a fact or event) · ceb saksi (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · et tunnistaja (someone called to give evidence in a court) · bg доказателство (something that serves as evidence) · cs svědkyně (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · el μάρτυρας (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sw shahidi (attestation of a fact or event) · uk очеви́дець (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · pt testemunho (attestation of a fact or event) · uk сві́дча (someone called to give evidence in a court) · it prova (something that serves as evidence) · nl getuige (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · it testimone (someone called to give evidence in a court) · is vottur (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · km សាក្សី (someone called to give evidence in a court) · xbc οιγαλφο (attestation of a fact or event) · uk очеви́дець (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَاهِد (something that serves as evidence) · ko 증인 (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ru свиде́тельница (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ko 증인 (attestation of a fact or event) · ru свиде́тельство (attestation of a fact or event) · fi todistaja (someone called to give evidence in a court) · nn vitne (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sl priča (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَاهِد (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh svedòkinja (someone called to give evidence in a court) · arz شاهد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · fa شاهد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ang ġewita (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fa شاهد (someone called to give evidence in a court) · be пасве́дчанне (attestation of a fact or event) · sh svjèdok (someone called to give evidence in a court) · txb reme (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · gd fianais (attestation of a fact or event) · ru свиде́тель (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · nrf têmoin (someone called to give evidence in a court) · be све́дка (someone called to give evidence in a court) · gd fianais (something that serves as evidence) · ps شاهد (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ja 目撃者 (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hu tanúságtétel (attestation of a fact or event) · lo ພະຍານ (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ka მტკიცებულება (attestation of a fact or event) · sh svjedòkinja (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tg гувоҳ (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fr témoin (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · xag 𐕢𐕒𐕡𐔾𐔰𐔺𐔲𐔰𐕎 (attestation of a fact or event) · pl świadectwo (attestation of a fact or event) · ro martoră (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · pl świadek (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh свједоча́нство (attestation of a fact or event) · da vidne (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ka თვითმხილველი (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · fr preuve (something that serves as evidence) · gd neach-fianais (someone called to give evidence in a court) · es testigo (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · fi todiste (something that serves as evidence) · ru понято́й (someone called to give evidence in a court) · kmr şahid (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَاهِدَة (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · kmr şahid (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ja 目撃者 (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hi गवाह (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · uk сві́дчення (attestation of a fact or event) · ja 証 (attestation of a fact or event) · gl testemuña (someone called to give evidence in a court) · it testimonianza (attestation of a fact or event) · zza şehade (attestation of a fact or event) · sl priča (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · pl świadek (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ja 証人 (attestation of a fact or event) · th พยาน (attestation of a fact or event) · ca testimoni (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ota شهادت (attestation of a fact or event) · es testigo (someone called to give evidence in a court) · tr şahit (someone called to give evidence in a court) · af getuie (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ro martor (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · eo atestanto (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · el μάρτυρας (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tg шоҳид (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh сведо̀киња (someone called to give evidence in a court) · th สักขี (someone called to give evidence in a court) · bn সাক্ষী (someone called to give evidence in a court) · uz guvoh (someone called to give evidence in a court) · kk айғақ (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hy վկա (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hi प्रत्यक्षदर्शी (someone called to give evidence in a court) · it testimone (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sk svedectvo (attestation of a fact or event) · sl očividec (someone called to give evidence in a court) · km កសិណសាក្សី (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ca atestat (accident de cotxe) (attestation of a fact or event) · sk svedok (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ru свиде́тель (someone called to give evidence in a court) · vi nhân chứng (attestation of a fact or event) · cmn 目擊者 /目击者 (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sc testimóngiu (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · lo ສັກຂີ (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ka თვითმხილველი (someone called to give evidence in a court) · de Zeuge (someone called to give evidence in a court) · non váttr (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · az şahid (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh svedòkinja (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sl očividka (someone called to give evidence in a court) · tt шаһит (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · uz guvoh (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · km សាក្សី (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · kea tistimunha (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · nrf têmoignage (attestation of a fact or event) · lt liudytojas (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ru свиде́тельница (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ga finné (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ru очеви́дец (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sv vittnesmål (attestation of a fact or event) · izh näkkiäsmees (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · th พยาน (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · fa گواهی (attestation of a fact or event) · vi nhân chứng (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · fa گواه (someone called to give evidence in a court) · fy tsjûge (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tg шоҳид (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · orv съвѣдѣтель (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · uz shohid (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sv vittne (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ota طانق (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hi साक्षी (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh сведо̀киња (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · th พยาน (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ml സാക്ഷി (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sv vittne (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ga fianaise (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ar شَهَادَة (attestation of a fact or event) · la testis (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · hy վկա (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh svjedočánstvo (attestation of a fact or event) · yi עד (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · nrf têmoin (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · chr ᎠᎦᏔᎯ (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · th ผู้เห็นเหตุการณ์ (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ota طانقلق (attestation of a fact or event) · kmr guwah (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ota طانق (someone called to give evidence in a court) · ps شاهد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · de Zeugin (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · be во́чніца (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sh свѐдок (someone called to give evidence in a court) · grc μάρτυς (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · de Zeugnis (attestation of a fact or event) · tk şaýat (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ota شاهد (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cmn 見證人 /见证人 (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · tk şaýat (someone called to give evidence in a court) · be во́чнік (someone called to give evidence in a court) · pdt Zeij (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cs svědek (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · bg свиде́тел (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sc distimonzu (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · nb vitne (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh сведоча́нство (attestation of a fact or event) · he עֵד (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh свједо̀киња (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · cs svědek (someone called to give evidence in a court) · hi साक्षी (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sq dëshmitar (someone called to give evidence in a court) · uk сві́док (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ga fianaise (attestation of a fact or event) · mn гэрч (someone called to give evidence in a court) · lv liecinieks (someone called to give evidence in a court) · te సాక్షి (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · sh svèdok (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ko 목격자 (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · mi kaiwhakaatu (someone called to give evidence in a court) · sc tistimognu (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · bg очеви́дец (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · la testimōnium (attestation of a fact or event) · ps ګواه (one who has a personal knowledge of something) · ca prova (something that serves as evidence) · nb vitne (someone called to give evidence in a court) · vi nhân chứng (someone called to give evidence in a court)