Witness Meaning
/ˈwɪt.nɪs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAttestation of a fact or event; testimony.
nounOne who sees or has personal knowledge of something.
Sentence Examples
I happened to witness the bullying in the corridor.
Tom was a witness to the accident.
He failed to interview a key witness.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She will ____ the signing of the important contract in the office tomorrow afternoon.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police are looking for a ____ who saw the accident that happened in the main square earlier this morning today.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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]:
"We have as much witness from heaven as we need."
— 1959, Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of holy scripture, volume 6:
"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:
"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:
"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:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She will ____ the signing of the important contract in the office tomorrow afternoon.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police are looking for a ____ who saw the accident that happened in the main square earlier this morning today.