Witness

Witness Wit"ness, n. [AS. witness, gewitnes, from witan to know. [root]133. See {Wit}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. Attestation of a fact or an event; testimony. [1913 Webster]

May we with . . . the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. --John v. 31. [1913 Webster]

2. That which furnishes evidence or proof. [1913 Webster]

Laban said to Jacob, . . . This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness. --Gen. xxxi. 51, 52. [1913 Webster]

3. One who is cognizant; a person who beholds, or otherwise has personal knowledge of, anything; as, an eyewitness; an earwitness. ``Thyself art witness I am betrothed.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Upon my looking round, I was witness to appearances which filled me with melancholy and regret. --R. Hall. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) (a) One who testifies in a cause, or gives evidence before a judicial tribunal; as, the witness in court agreed in all essential facts. (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. [1913 Webster]

{Privileged witnesses}. (Law) See under {Privileged}.

{With a witness}, effectually; to a great degree; with great force, so as to leave some mark as a testimony. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

This, I confess, is haste with a witness. --South. [1913 Webster]