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   Wit·ness

   /ˈwitnəs/

   

   noun

   • 1. a person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place: "police are appealing for witnesses to the accident" Similar observeronlookerlooker-oneyewitnessspectatorviewerwatcherbystanderpasserbyearwitness
   • ▪ a person giving sworn testimony to a court of law or the police: "a key witness at the trial" Similar attestortestifierdeponent
   • ▪ a person who is present at the signing of a document and signs it themselves to confirm this: "a deed signed in the presence of a witness"
   • 2. evidence; proof: "the memorial service was witness to the wide circle of his interest" Similar evidenceindicationprooftestimony
   • ▪ used to refer to confirmation or evidence given by signature, under oath, or otherwise: "in witness thereof, the parties sign this document"
   • ▪ open profession of one's religious faith through words or actions: "faithful Christian witness"
   • 3. a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

   verb

   • 1. see (an event, typically a crime or accident) take place: "a bartender who witnessed the murder" Similar seeobservewatchlook on atbe a witness toviewnotenoticespotbe present atattendliterary:behold
   • ▪ be present as someone signs (a document) or gives (their signature) to a document and sign it oneself to confirm this: "the clerk witnessed her signature" Similar countersignsignendorsevalidatecertificatedocumentnotarize
   • 2. have knowledge of (an event or change) from personal observation or experience: "what we are witnessing is the birth of a new political entity"
   • ▪ (of a time, place, or other context) be the setting in which (an event or development) takes place: "the 1980s witnessed an unprecedented increase in the scope of the electronic media"
   • ▪ give or serve as evidence of; testify to: "his writings witness to an inner toughness" Similar attest tobe evidence/proof oftestify tobear witness toconfirmevidenceproveverifycorroboratesubstantiatebear outshowdemonstrateestablishbe a monument toindicaterevealliterary:bespeak
   • ▪ look at (used to introduce a fact illustrating a preceding statement): "the nuclear family is a vulnerable institution—witness the rates of marital breakdown"
   • 3. (of a person) openly profess one's religious faith: "our duty is to witness to God"

   Word Origin Old Englishwitnes (see wit1, -ness).

   Scrabble Points: 10

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