From Middle English witnesse, from Old English ġewitnes, equivalent to wit + -ness.

• IPA: /ˈwɪtnəs/, /ˈwɪtnɪs/

witness

1. (uncountable) Attestation of a fact or event; testimony.

   She can bear witness, since she was there at the time.

   • 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]:

     May we, with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge?

2. (countable) One who sees or has personal knowledge of something.

   As a witness to the event, I can confirm that he really said that.

   • 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]:

     […] thyself art witness— I am betrothed.

3. (countable, law) Someone called to give evidence in a court.

   The witness for the prosecution did not seem very credible.

4. (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.

5. (countable) Something that serves as evidence; a sign or token.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Genesis 31:51-52 ↗:

     Laban said to Jacob, […] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness.

• French: témoignage
• German: Zeugnis
• Italian: testimonianza
• Portuguese: testemunho
• Russian: свиде́тельство
• Spanish: testimonio

• French: témoin
• German: Zeuge, Zeugin (female)
• Italian: testimone
• Portuguese: testemunha
• Russian: свиде́тель
• Spanish: testigo

• French: témoin
• German: Zeuge, Zeugin (female)
• Italian: testimone
• Portuguese: testemunha
• Russian: свиде́тель
• Spanish: testigo

• French: preuve
• Italian: prova
• Portuguese: prova
• Spanish: prueba, testigo

witness (witnesses, present participle witnessing; simple past and past participle witnessed)

1. (transitive) To furnish proof of, to show.

   This certificate witnesses his presence on that day.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗, lines 56-57:

     round he throws his baleful eyes / That witness'd huge affliction and dismay

2. (transitive) To take as evidence.
3. (transitive) To see or gain knowledge of through experience.

   He witnessed the accident.

4. (intransitive, construed with to or for) To present personal religious testimony; to preach at (someone) or on behalf of.
5. To see the execution of (a legal instrument), and subscribe it for the purpose of establishing its authenticity.

   to witness a bond or a deed

• certify

• French: témoigner
• German: bezeugen
• Italian: testimoniare
• Portuguese: testemunhar
• Russian: свиде́тельствовать
• Spanish: testificar

• Italian: constatare
• Portuguese: testemunhar
• Spanish: probar

• Italian: essere testimone, assistere
• Portuguese: presenciar, testemunhar
• Russian: быть свидетель
• Spanish: presenciar

• Spanish: testificar

witness (plural witnesses)

1. Jehovah's Witness