Witness

n. [A-S. witness, gewitness, from witan, to know; O. H. Ger. giwiznes, testimony, Icel. vitneskja, knowledge, vitni, witness. See WIT, v. i.] 1. Attestation of a fact or event; testimony. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. John v. 31. May we with . . . the witness of a good conscience pursue him with any further revenge? Shak. 2. That which furnishes evidence or proof. Laban said to Jacob, . . . This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness. Gen. xxxi. 52. 3. One who is cognizant; a person who beholds or otherwise has personal knowledge of any thing; as, an eye-witness; an ear-witness. Say that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives, to whom thyself art witness I am betrothed. Shak. Upon my looking round, I was witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret. Bp. Hall. 4. (Law.) (a.) One who testifies in a cause, or gives evidence before a judicial tribunal. (b.) One who sees the execution of an instrument, and subscribes it for the purpose of confirming its authenticity by his testimony; one who witnesses a will, a deed, a marriage, or the like. (c.) One who gives testimony; as, the witnesses in court agreed in all essential facts. With a witness, effectually; to a great degree; with great force, so as to leave some mark as a testimony behind. [Colloq. and inelegant.] This, I confess, is haste with a witness. Latimer.