witness

Definitions

1. noun

   Attestation of a fact or event; testimony.

   Examples

   • She can bear witness, since she was there at the time.
   • May we, with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pursue him with any further revenge?
2. noun

   One who sees or has personal knowledge of something.

   Examples

   • As a witness to the event, I can confirm that he really said that.
   • […]thyself art witness- I am betrothed.
3. noun

   Someone called to give evidence in a court.

   Examples

   • The witness for the prosecution did not seem very credible.
   • From the evidence of witnesses and of the recorded passing times, including the time at which the circuit breakers were tripped when the wires were brought down, the train was travelling at a speed of not less than 70 m.p.h.
4. noun

   One who is called upon to witness an event or action, such as a wedding or the signing of a document.

   Example

   • The bridesmaid and best man at a wedding typically serve as the witnesses.
5. noun

   Something that serves as evidence or a sign or token.

   Example

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

   A particular version of a text (seen as providing testimony of archetype or other earlier version)

   Example

   • Yet there are extremely few, if any, cases of preserved autographs, and textual witnesses (manuscripts) rather distant in time from the creation of the texts are the norm.
7. noun

   An additional database server instance used in failover scenarios to decide whether the mirror should take over.

   Example

   • Automatic failover requires a witness, either a file share or a SQL Server witness (SQL Server Express may be used as a witness).
8. verb

   To furnish proof of, to show.

   Examples

   • This certificate witnesses his presence on that day.
   • round he throws his baleful eyes / That witness'd huge affliction and dismay
9. verb

   To take as evidence.

   Example

   • Depression often goes undetected until it is too late . Witness the recent White House suicide.
10. verb

    To see or gain knowledge of through experience.

    Examples

    • He witnessed the accident.
    • This is but a faint sketch of the incalculable calamities and horrors we must expect, should we be so unfortunate as ever to witness the triumph of modern infidelity