witness

Everyday

1. A witness is a person who sees something happen, especially an accident or a crime. tree →
2. A witness is a person who tells a court what they know or saw. tree →
3. A witness is a person who watches someone sign an important paper and then signs it too. tree →
4. (verb) To witness something means to see it happen: "we witnessed a rainbow over the sea". tree →

In the lessons

In stories and crime tales, detectives question witnesses to find out what happened. In safety lessons, if you witness an accident, tell a grown-up or call for help. Phrases: eye witness (eyewitness), witness box (UK) or witness stand (USA), bear witness, witness statement.

Examples

• A witness saw the car go through the red light. tree →
• The detective spoke to three witnesses. tree →
• She was called as a witness in court. tree →
• We witnessed an amazing sunset. tree →
• My aunt signed as a witness to the will. tree →
• Did anyone witness the accident? tree →
• Five people saw it, so there were 5 witnesses. tree →
• It was a terrible sight for a little girl to witness. tree →

Note

Plural: witnesses (add -es). Past: witnessed. In the UK the witness stands in the "witness box"; in the USA on the "witness stand". An eyewitness saw it with their own eyes.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah a witness speaks in court about what he saw; the law demands honest witnesses and forbids false testimony. Proverbs and Psalms warn about false and unrighteous witnesses, and Lamentations uses the word as "take to witness", meaning to compare.

Interpretation. The commandment against false witness is one of the Ten Commandments. Tradition requires at least two witnesses for a verdict and warns that lying testimony harms the whole community.

Examples

• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Torah EXO.20.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Torah DEU.5.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against him; (Torah DEU.19.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• What shall I take to witness for thee? (Writings LAM.2.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• He that breatheth forth truth uttereth righteousness; but a false witness deceit. (Writings PRO.12.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not. (Writings PSA.35.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: witnesses (add -es). Past: witnessed. In the UK the witness stands in the "witness box"; in the USA on the "witness stand". An eyewitness saw it with their own eyes.