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wit·ness
 witness
- pronunciation:
- wIt
nihs
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
witnessed, witnesses, witnessing |
| definition 1: |
to know through direct sight or experience of.
She witnessed the crime.- synonyms:
- eyewitness, know, see
- similar words:
- behold, experience, observe, perceive
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| definition 2: |
to give or serve as evidence of; testify to.
- synonyms:
- attest, testify
- similar words:
- confirm, corroborate, demonstrate, depose, establish, evidence, evince, express, reveal, show, substantiate, swear, verify, vouch
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| definition 3: |
to watch or be present at.
- synonyms:
- attend, see, watch
- similar words:
- behold, observe, view
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| definition 4: |
to attest to the legality of by signing one's name.
- synonyms:
- attest, notarize, sign
- similar words:
- certify, endorse, initial, testify, undersign, validate
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| related words: |
mark, note, see |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to supply or act as evidence; testify.
- synonyms:
- testify
- similar words:
- attest, certify, depose, swear, vouch
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a person who sees or experiences an occurrence.
- synonyms:
- eyewitness, spectator
- similar words:
- beholder, bystander, looker-on, observer, onlooker, viewer, watcher
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| definition 2: |
a person who supplies evidence, esp. in a court of law.
- synonyms:
- testifier
- similar words:
- deponent, informant, informer
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| definition 3: |
a person who formally attests to a document by signing it.
- similar words:
- notary public, signer
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| definition 4: |
something that acts as evidence.
- synonyms:
- evidence, testimony
- similar words:
- affidavit, confirmation, declaration, deposition, profession, proof, statement, testimonial, verification
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| related words: |
evidence, testimony |
| derivations: |
witnessable (adj.), witnesser (n.) |
The word witness comes from wit, which in Old English means "knowledge."
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