witnesses
|wit-ness-es|
/ˈwɪtnəsɪz/
(witness)
observer of events
Etymology
'witness' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'witnes(s)', where 'wit' meant 'knowledge' or 'to know' and the suffix formed a noun meaning 'one who knows or gives testimony'.
'witness' changed from Old English 'witnes(s)' to Middle English 'witnesse' and eventually became the modern English word 'witness'. The root is related to Proto-Germanic '*witaną' (to know) and to the Indo-European root '*weid-' (to see).
Initially, it meant 'knowledge, testimony' or 'one who knows'; over time it came to mean specifically 'a person who saw an event and can testify' and also extended figuratively to 'something that shows or attests to a past condition'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who saw an event (especially an accident or crime) and can give a first-hand account or testimony.
Several witnesses described the accident to the police.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
something that serves as evidence or a sign of a past event (often used figuratively: 'witnesses to history').
The old buildings are witnesses to the town's former prosperity.
Synonyms
Verb 1
third-person singular form of 'witness': to see or be present at an event and possibly give testimony about it.
She witnesses several trials every year as part of her job.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
third-person singular form of 'witness': to be evidence of or to show that something happened (often used in the sense 'X witnesses Y').
Recent wins witnesses the team's improvement this season.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/20 01:09