witness
witness Lexical Profile
witness Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
"Police are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward."
A person giving sworn testimony to a court of law or the police.
"The defense attorney cross-examined the key witness for three hours."
Evidence or proof of something.
"The sheer scale of the monument is a witness to the ambition of its creators."
• verb
To see an event, typically a crime or accident, happen.
"Several bystanders witnessed the robbery as they were walking out of the bank."
To give or serve as evidence of something; to testify.
"Her dedication to the project witnesses a profound commitment to the community."
To be the scene, setting, or time period in which an event takes place.
"The late nineteenth century witnessed a rapid expansion of the railway network."
• Rhymes for witness
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'witnes' meaning 'knowledge, understanding, or testimony', formed from 'witan' (to know) plus the suffix '-nes'. Its modern sense shifted toward the person providing testimony or observing an event.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.