Forms: 1–7 witnes, 3–5 wittnesse, 3 Orm., 6 wittness, 3–6 wittenes, wytnesse, 3–7 witnesse, 4–5 witenes, 4–6 wittnes, wytnes(s, (2 witnys, 3 -nesce, 4 wijtnes, wittenesse, 4–5 whitnes, 4, 6 vytnes, wetness(e, witnese, (7 Sc.) vitnes, 5 wytt(e)nesse, -(e)nes, witnesh, wetenesse, whetnesse, vitness(e)), 5– witness. [OE. witnes, more freq. ʓewitnes, f. (ʓe)wit WIT sb., IWIT + -nes -NESS. Cf. OHG. giwiȥnessi, MDu. wetenisse. The passage in sense from abstract to concrete is paralleled in F. témoin (:—L. testimonium). The uninflected pl. was frequent in early use; for separate illustration see sense 4.]
I. † 1. Knowledge, understanding, wisdom. Obs.
c. 950. Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees), 194. Fore wisdom vel witnes ðæs biscop … propter scientiam episcopi.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 507. He sal … wenden iewes … To ðe wittenesse of iesus crist.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 225. Whanne a symple man seiþ a treuþe, we trowen it not for he seiþ it,… but Crist is man of greet witnesse. Ibid. (1382), Prov. viii. 5. Vnderstondeth, ȝee litle childer, witnesse [1388 wisdom; Vulg. astutiam].
1433. Rolls of Parlt., V. 435/1. The connyng and witnes that resten in his persone.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 27. His owne seyng that he had tolde before to a few persons of wytnesse [orig. perpaucis arbitris].
2. Attestation of a fact, event or statement; testimony, evidence; † evidence given in a court of justice. See also 10.
a. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xv. 19. Falsa testimonia, leasa witnesa.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 13. Ne spec þu aȝein þine nexta nane false witnesse.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16280. His aun muth nu has him dempt, o witnes es na nede.
1340. Ayenb., 10. Þou ne sselt zigge none ualse wytnesse aye þine emcristen.
1483. Acta Audit., in Acta Dom. Conc., II. Introd. 108. The Lordis … ordanis the witnes now takin to be closit.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss. (1812), II. clxi. 446. If nede be I shall proue it by the wytnesse of hymselfe.
1526. Tindale, Acts x. 43. To hym geveth all the prophetes witnes. Ibid., 1 John v. 9. Yf we receave the witnes of men, the witnes of god is gretter.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. iii. 100. An euill soule producing holy witnesse, Is like a villaine with a smiling cheeke.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 6. That language [sc. the Greek] was fittest to containe the Scriptures, both for the first Preachers … to appeale vnto for witnesse [etc.].
1660. Trial Regic., 157. It is not that I would invalidate his witness.
1739. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 221. They are to make their choice, and abide by it: but which soever their choice be, the gospel is equally a witness to them; and the purposes of Providence are answered by this witness of the gospel.
1867. Dk. Argyll, Reign of Law, vii. 360. Nature is called as a witness, and then the witness she gives is condemned.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 11. There is the most trustworthy witness to the imitative propensity of this bird.
1881. Jowett, Thucyd., I. 7. Agamemnon … if the witness of Homer be accepted, brought the greatest number of ships himself.
† b. The action or condition of being an observer of an event. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 63. Wiðute witnesse of weopmen oðer of wummon þæt ou muwe iheren, ne speke ȝe mid none monne ofte ne longe.
c. 1400. Brut, ccxxxii. 319. He was bound by othe afor notaries in presence and witnes of tho kynges.
c. Applied to the inward testimony of the conscience; after 2 Cor. i. 12.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, v. 12. Witnes þaire awn consciens and accusand þaim.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 175. Hafand his consciens vytnes How he in þat tyme liffand vas.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. vi. 46. The joye of a gode man is þe witnes of a gode conscience.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. ii. 220. May we with … the witnesse of a good conscience, pursue him with any further reuenge?
† d. In some versions of the Bible: = TESTIMONY sb. 4. Obs.
1530. Tindale, Exod. xxxviii. 21. This is the summe of the habitacyon of witnesse. Ibid., 30. The tabernacle of witnesse.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings xi. 12. He … set a crowne vpon his heade, and toke the witnes, and made him kynge. Ibid., xxiii. 4. That they shulde walke after the Lorde, and to kepe his commaundementes, witnesses, and ordinaunces.
3. Testimony by signature, oath, etc. Chiefly in phr. in (rarely † into) witness of, hereof, whereof, etc.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 214. Þe chartre was forth brouht with wittnes enseled streit [orig. Le rays … mette sun sel en testmoynaunce].
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 75. In witnesse or whuche þing wrong was þe furste … In þe Date of þe deuel þe Deede was aselet.
1388. in J. H. Ramsay, Bamff Charters (1915), 22. In the wetness of the forsayd partysyng Willame, Jon, [etc.].
1410. in E. E. Wills (1882), 17. In wytnesse of þis dede I haue set þerto me sel.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 33. Into witnesse of this he put to his seale. Ibid., 48. To the whyche wrytynge hys seel I-put to is wytnes.
1525. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 12. In wittenes whereof … I … haith setto my seale.
1550. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1880), 76. In witnes of the quhilk to this present writ, subscriuit with our handis.
1658. Sir R. Hutton’s Yng. Clerks Guide, I. (ed. 8), 240. In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 27. The land was received as a fresh grant, which needed the writ and seal of King William as its witness.
4. One who gives evidence in relation to matters of fact under inquiry; spec. one who gives or is legally qualified to give evidence upon oath or affirmation in a court of justice or judicial inquiry.
Hostile witness, one who gives evidence adverse to the party by whom he is called. Ultroneous witness, see ULTRONEOUS b.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 6. Falsi testes, lease vel lycce witnesa.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19419. Tua wittnes fals þai þam puruaid, To tell he had o godd missaid.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 74. Þei wolen … brynge many false witnesses & notaries in his absence, & in presence speke no word.
c. 1400. Cato’s Morals, 1, in Cursor M., App. IV. If þou be made wittenesse, For to say þat soþ is, Saue þine honour Als mikil as þou mai fra blame.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., II. xv. (1584), 61. Witnesses be sworne, & heard before them [sc. the jury] … openly.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Sir Gregory Nonsence, Wks. 1630, II. 4/2. Truth must be found, and witnesses produced.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 6 b. When a tryall is by witnesses, regularly the affirmative ought to be proued by two or three witnesses…. But when the tryall is by verdict of 12. men, there the iudgement is not giuen vpon witnesses.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 146. A Judge … ought to take notice of the Fact, from none but the Witnesses.
1718. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. (1887), I. 240. False witnesses are much cheaper than in Christendom.
1814. Mrs. J. West, Alicia de Lacy, IV. 251. Many witnesses attested that he had borne arms.
1827. Ryan & Moody, Cases Nisi Prius, 31, marg. In an action by executors, a paid legatee is a competent witness to increase the estate.
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, xxxiv. How did you like standing witness? Ar’n’t them lawyers impudent things, staring at one so?
1867. Wharton, Law-Lex. (ed. 4), Hostile witness.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, xii. It was certainly an odd chance which would throw them together in a police-court as barrister and witness.
1885. Miss Braddon, Wyllard’s Weird, i. ‘You can show that to the Coroner,’ he said; ‘of course, you will be a witness.’ ‘About the only one necessary, I should think,’ said the doctor. ‘I saw her fall.’
uninflected pl. c. 1440. Generydes, 1510. He bad hym goo … To the Sowdon, and telle hym the processe, And he wold be on of his cheff witnesse.
1483. Acta Audit., in Acta Dom. Conc., II. Introd 104. The Lordis … ordanis him to have letters to summond his witnes, and the party to here thame suorn.
1533. Cranmer, Lett., Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.), 253 (MS.). That he hathe diuerse witnes, whiche culde make manyfeste deposicions concernyng the mattir.
1535. in Lett. Suppr. Monast. (Camden), 33. Your owne confession in the lettres, besides the wittnes which ar against you, wolbe sufficient to condemne yow.
1713. Swift, Cadenus & Vanessa, 68. The pleader, having spoke his best, Had witness ready to attest.
b. transf. and fig.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxiv. 11. Þai [sc. the prophets and evangelists] ere witnes of his hightynge.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 213. If you doubt thereof histories and fables with one voyce are witnes of my saying.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. i. 103. Well, let my Deeds be witnesse of my worth.
1635. D. Dickson, Hebr. xii. 1. 284. The Examples of God’s Saynctes in Scripture, should stand as Witnesses agaynst vs, if wee run not as becommeth.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 317. Why shouldst not thou … thy trial choose With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri’d?
1781. Cowper, Heroism, 81. Sweet nature … stands a witness at truth’s awful bar, To prove you, there, destroyers as ye are.
1853. Maurice, Proph. & Kings, vi. 91. This prophet … is a true witness for the Lord God of Israel.
5. One who is called on, selected, or appointed to be present at a transaction, so as to be able to testify to its having taken place: spec. one who is present at the execution of a document and subscribes it in attestation thereof; more definitely, attesting or subscribing witness.
Often in formulæ corresponding to med.L. teste me ipso, teste rege, his testibus, etc., AF. tesmoin.…
[a. 995. in Thorpe, Charters (1865), 288. Her cyþ on þysum ʓewrite hu Wynflæd ʓelædde hyre ʓewitnesse.]
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 656. Ic bidde þe broðer Æðelred & mine swustre Cyneburh & Cynesuuith … þet ʓe beon witnesse & þæt ʓeo hit write mid iure fingre. Ibid., 675. Ic Theodorus ærcebiscop of Cantwarbyriʓ am witnesse of þas ʓewrite.
1258. Proclam. Hen. III., in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1868), 21. Witnesse vs seluen [AF. Tesmoin Meimeismes] æt Lunden’ þane Eȝtetenþe day on þe Monþe of Octobr’.
c. 1290. Beket, 836, in S. Eng. Leg., 130. Ich was with him er wel inov … Þare ne tok ich no witnesse of þat us was bitweone.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, xxxiv. Ye are suoren to God and to youre husbonde atte the chirche dore afore witnesse that ye shalle neuer breke it.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 51. These beyng witnesse, Robert of Wytham, Sire walter, [etc.].
1463. Irish Act 3 Edw. IV., c. 32. We have done to be made these oure lettres patentes Oureself beying witnesse.
1494. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 239. Item, the foure witnes [of the execution] expensis in Edinburgh,… xl s.
1525. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 13. Thies wittenesses, Thomas Beamont, [etc.].
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 205. Go too, a bargaine made: seale it…. Ile be the witnesse. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 401. But come-on, Contract vs fore these Witnesses.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of News, V. ii. I haue your Deed…. Is’t not A perfect Act? and absolute in Law? Seal’d and deliuer’d before witnesses?
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 139. Seuerall witnesses auerre it vnder their hands and seales.
1664. in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. III. (1912), 228. This … wee haue made bold to Certefie Witnesse our hands this First day of December.
c. 1696. in W. M. Morison, Dict. Decis. (1807), 16183. The communers and witnesses present, who fortify and adminiculate the same.
1710. O. Sansom, Acc. Life, 73. He … threatned me before Witness, That if I did not pay him, I must expect to go to Prison.
1720. T. Innes, Crit. Ess. (1879), 111. As it is clear by many ancient charters, and chiefly by the donors and witnesses in the chartularies of our monasteries.
1754. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 53. James Fullarton merchant in Edinburgh and the st John Strathie who also subscribe as witnesses.
1754. in Vesey Reports (1793), I. 11. Whether Testator’s declaration before three witnesses, that it is his will, is equivalent to signing it before them.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xvii. We find his name in the parish register as a witness to the marriage of Maria Lobbs to her cousin.
1839. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. i. 76, note. These words, ‘I give myself to thee,’ uttered by a woman to a man, even without the presence of witnesses,… render her his lawful wife if [etc.].
1855. [see SUBSCRIBING ppl. a.].
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy-bk. Prop. Law, xviii. 141. The statute requires the witnesses to attest and subscribe the will.
† b. A sponsor or godparent at baptism. Obs.
orig. in Puritan use.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxiv. § 5. In the phrase of some kinde of men they vse to be termed witnesses, as if they came but to see and testifie what is done. It sauoureth more of pictie to giue them their old accustomed name of fathers and mothers in God.
1614. B. Jonson, Barth. Fair, I. iii. He was Witnesse, for Win, here, (they will not be call’d God-fathers), and nam’d her Winne-the-fight.
1643. Sir T. Hope, Diary (Bannatyne Club), 188. This day I wes witness to ane barne of the Lord Balgonies, callit Agnes.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. ix. § 2 (1712), 115. Four days before this mischance he being witness to a Child, said, that that was the last he should be ever witness to.
1837. Dial., in Devon Dial., Gloss., To Witness or to Stand Witness to, to stand sponsor to a child in baptism.
6. One who is or was present and is able to testify from personal observation; one present as a spectator or auditor. (Cf. EAR-WITNESS, EYEWITNESS.) Usually with of, occas. to.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 144. No þinc nis witnesse þer of god þet we þeonne deð but God one.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19004. Fra ded to lijf nu risen es he, And þar-of wittnes all ar wee.
1382. Wyclif, Heb. xii. 1. Forsothe and we hauynge so greet a cloud of witnessis [Gr. νέφος μαρτύρων, L. nubem testium] put to.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (prose), 39. [They shall] make þaire peticiun, and bi-fore whitnes offir þaire childir.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, xxxvi. 113. Þe Pope sayde a … sermon of þe holynesse and þe myracles of Seynt Gilbert, rehersing þe witnes þere present.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. iv. (1883), 113. This lyar coude not brynge no wytnessis.
1495. Act, 11 Hen. VII., c. 10 § 2. ij witnesses or moo that woll witnesse and testefie the seid payment.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), B v b. They were witnesse by syght, and not by heryng of other.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 35. Because I was nether a witnes of the facte, nor present at the deede I ouerpasse that matter.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John vi. 66–71. Speciall witnesses and bruters abrode, of al the thynges that he wroughte.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 360 b. No man might haue accesse to him, nor speake wt him without a witnesse.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faustus, 209. 2. Scholar. Why, didst thou not say thou knewst? Wagner. Haue you any witnesse on’t? 1. Scholar. Yes sirra, I heard you.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iii. 9. Faine would mine eyes be witnesse with mine eares, To giue their censure.
1682. J. Norris, Hierocles, 37. But had they no witness? I omit God, but had they not themselves, and the testimony of Conscience?
1694. Atterbury, Serm., Isa. lx. 22 (1726), I. 152. Those Miracles being perform’d in the Desart, without any Witnesses but what were of that Nation.
1702. Pope, Dryope, 54. I saw, unhappy! what I now relate, And stood the helpless witness of thy fate.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 142, ¶ 13. He is magnificent without witnesses.
1794. Paley, Evid., II. ix. (1817), 235. It was the credit given to original witnesses appealing for the truth of their accounts to what themselves had seen and heard.
1797. Jane Austen, Sense & Sensib., xxxv. Before such witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., II. II. viii. 12. I will endeavour to act as if she were witness of my actions.
1842. T. Wright, Biogr. Brit., Anglo-Sax. Per., 467. Turgar … in his youth had been a witness of the destruction of the abbey.
1854. J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), I. xxiii. 367. I have been twenty times witness to the singular effect which the sound of a bell had upon Napoleon.
1860. F. W. Robinson, Grandmother’s Money, v. The inhabitants of Blackman’s Gardens … were witness to one of the … scenes.
1862. Stanley, Jewish Ch., I. xviii. 391. ‘He judged Israel all his life:’ even after the Monarchy had sprung up, he [sc. Samuel] was still a witness of an earlier and more primitive state.
fig. 1781. Cowper, Progr. Err., 174. Then to the dance, and make the sober moon Witness of joys that shun the sight of noon.
b. In asseverative formulæ, in which a deity or a human being is invoked as one who is cognizant of a fact; as God is my witness, Be my witness that.… Most often in phr. to call or take to († one’s) witness: to call upon or appeal to as one’s surety; to swear by.
[c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 73. Ȝif he godd hafð to iwitnesse ðat he mid hlutter herte hit doð.]
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6934. Ich clupie god to witnesse … Þat ȝif ich of eni gulti am þat ich mote þoru þis fure Brenne … & perissy.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17496. Þat soth it es We tak drightin til vr wittnes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 155. The hooly writ take I to my witnesse That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.
14[?]. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, xvi. 10. And so wolde I, god take I to witnesse!
1535. Coverdale, 2 Esdras ii. 5. I call vpon the for a wytnesse ouer the mother of these children, which wolde not kepe my couenaunt.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 99. I take firste God to my witnesse, and afterwarde all the worlde, that I haue been at all tymes … true man.
1555. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. xlv. 133. God my Wytnes, that my Harte wyll not suffer me … to declare suche vyle Reportes.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, VI. 123. To which (if so it needefull is) I loue to witnesse call.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. ii. 139. Heauen be my witnesse you doe. Ibid. (c. 1600), Sonn., cxxiv. To this I witnes call the foles of time, Which die for goodnes, who haue liu’d for crime.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 635. For me, be witness all the Host of Heav’n, If counsels different, or danger shun’d By me, have lost our hopes.
1700. Dryden, Sigismonda & G., 397. That I have lov’d, I own; that still I love, I call to Witness all the Pow’rs above.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, II. i. 3. He had so often emphatically taken his neighbours to witness that he was weaving.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxv. The tall boy … called those about him to witness that he had only shouted in a whisper.
1851. Kingsley, Yeast, xiii. Though, God’s my witness, there’s no spite in me for my own sake.
† c. Referring to, usually introducing, the designation of an authority for a statement. (Cf. 7 b.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14791. Quarof was born þe king daui, Þat es þe tun of bethleem, Þe bok is wittnes for to tem.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 274. They been deceyued that seyn that they ne be nat tempted in hir body, witnesse on [v.r. of] Seint Iame the Apostel.
c. 1440. Sir Gowther, 117. The chylde throfe and … The duk sent after other sex, As wetnesse the storie.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xiv. 428. Lord, this is sothe, securely, wytnes the profett Isay.
1486. in Surtees Misc. (1890), 54. Shewing the rose to be principall of all floures, as witnesh Barthilmew.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 42. [Jesus Christ] Sinnaris onlie Saluatioun, As witnes is thy word in write.
7. fig. Something that furnishes evidence or proof of the thing or fact mentioned; an evidential mark or sign, a token.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3843. To sen gode witnesse ðor-on, Ðat wond was in ðat arche don.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 428. For freris … suspect in þis heresye, men schulden not comyne wiþ hom bifore þei schewid þo fayth by sufficyent wittenes.
1414. 26 Pol. Poems, xiii. 94. Lete werk be witnes ȝe can ȝoure Crede.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. iii. 33. For better witnesse of the antiquitie thereof, the inhabitaunts … doe … call all these old ruines Paleopolys.
1594. W. Harbert, in Shaks. Cent. Praise (1879), 12. Whose death was witnesse of her spotlesse life.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxviii. § 3. Our kneeling … is the gesture of pietie…. What doth better beseeme our bodies … then to bee sensible witnesses of minds vnfainedly humbled?
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. iii. 48. It is the witnesse still of excellencie, To put a strange face on his owne perfection. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., IV. iii. 97. Vpon the which [graves], I trust Shall witnesse liue in Brasse of this dayes worke.
1601. Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., II. xxvii. ¶ 2. They … smelt of oyle, the witnesse of an vnman-like effeminate nicenesse.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xxii. (1674), 170. [He bade them] remove away that unfortunate Witness of their ingratitude from the eyes of the World.
1815. Scott, Guy M., li. Now, wipe these witnesses from your eyes.
1859. Hawthorne, Marble Faun, xxvii. Italian asseverations…, however true they may chance to be, have no witness of their truth in the faces of those who utter them.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 82. Gifts yet more costly were now the witness of his personal presence.
b. Introducing a name, designation, phrase or clause denoting a person or thing that furnishes evidence of the fact or exemplifies the statement. Also as witness, and, in early use, † witness on. (After L. teste..., F. témoin...)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11788. Bot we ne wrick þe wisliker, Þe wark of him sua mai we dred, Als wittnes on vr eldres dede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 277. Witnesse [L. testis est] Tyburces and Cecilies shrifte. Ibid. (c. 1386), Wife’s T., 95. Pardee we wommen konne no thyng hele, Witnesse on Myda, wol ye heere the tale.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 528. Wytnesse on Wycliff þat warned hem wiþ trewþe.
c. 1420. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 366. Ioyntly to her Mercurius tooke hys see As came to hys course—wytnesse the zodyak.
1598. F. Meres, Palladis Tamia, 281 b. The sweete wittie soule of Ouid liues in mellifluous … Shakespeare, witnes his Venus and Adonis.
1616. Champney, Voc. Bps., 24. The wisest, and greatest clarkes haue erred, as witnesse the laps of Tertullian, Origen, and Lucifer.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xv. 192. Nature oftentimes recompenceth deform’d bodies with excellent wits. Witnesse Æsop.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 503. When Night Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons Of Belial…. Witness the Streets of Sodom. Ibid. (1671), Samson, 906. Dal. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse…. Sam. For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath, Witness when I was worried with thy peals.
1781. Cowper, Retirem., 713. And novels (witness ev’ry month’s review) Belie their name, and offer nothing new.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, II. ii. The strange, barbarous French which she and many other fine ladies of that time—witness her Grace of Portsmouth—employed.
1868. T. H. Key, Philol. Essays, 249. What progress is visible there is chiefly due to the energy of German, not French, scholarship, as witness the valuable collection of Greek authors that has proceeded from the press of Didot.
c. spec. In textual criticism, a manuscript or an early version which is regarded as evidence of authority for the text. (Usually in pl.)
1853. Scrivener, Collation MSS. Holy Gospels, Introd. i. p. xiii. The very rough and unsatisfactory process of counting the number of witnesses produced in behalf of each [reading].
1870. W. Urwick, trans. Bleek’s Introd. N. T., II. 305. By comparing the received text with Greek MSS. of the N. T. and other witnesses.
1926. Friedrichsen, Gothic Vers. Gospels, 194. Wherever the Codex [Argenteus] simulates the Vulgate text, the majority of Old Latin witnesses go with it.
d. Technical uses (see quots.; cf. F. témoin).
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., Witnesses. In fortification. (See Temoins.) [Temoins, Fr. In civil and military architecture, are pieces of earth left standing as marks or witnesses in the fosses or places which the workmen are emptying, that they may know … how many cubical fathoms of earth have been carried.]
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 763. If any silver be produced it must be deducted from the assay. This is called the witness.
1880. Zaehnsdorf, Bookbinding Gloss., Witness, when a volume is cut so as to show that it has not been so cut down, but that some of the leaves have still rough edges. These uncut leaves are called ‘Witness.’
8. One who testifies for Christ or the Christian faith, esp. by death; a martyr. Obs. exc. as literal rendering of Gr. μάρτυς MARTYR.
The reference in Rev. xi. 3 is much disputed; see, e.g., Vigouroux Dict. de la Bible, s.v. Témoins.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xi. 3. And I shal ȝiue to my two witnesses, and thei shulen prophecie a thousynd dayes two hundrid and sixty.
1548–9. Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect Innoc. Day. Whose prayse this day, the young innocentes thy witnesses hath confessed, and shewed foorth … in dying.
1557. N. T. (Geneva), Acts xxii. 20. And when the bloud of thy wytnes [marg. or, Martyr] Steuen was shed, I also stode by.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1671), 128. One of the softest pillowes Christ hath, is laid under his witnesses head.
[a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 26 April 1689. My Lord St. Asaph consider’d the killing of the two witnesses, to be the utter destruction of the Cevennes Protestants…, and the other the Waldenses and Pyrenean Christians.]
II. Phrases. (See also above.)
9. a. In witness: as a testimony or piece of evidence. Now rare or Obs. exc. as in 3.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. viii. 4. In cyðnisse vel witnesa.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke ix. 5. Þonne ʓe of þære ceastre gað, asceacað eower fota dust ofer hiʓ on witnesse.]
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 54 b. In witnesse of wche þinges we habbez don maken þues oure opene lettres.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VIII. 95. In two lynes hit lay … And was I-writen riht þus In witnesse of treuþe.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 34. In tokne and in witnesse That ilke ymage bar liknesse Of man and of non other beste.
1528. Tindale, Declar. Sacram., a ij b. They cast vp an heape of stones in wytnesse & called it Gylyad: ye heape of wytnesse.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 1. Hang there my verse, in witnesse of my loue.
1657. Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 113. Venice doth at this day enjoy many great priviledges, in witness of her great worth and singular merit.
† b. To stand in witness: to act as a witness. Sc. Obs.
1516. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 422/2. The king … rehablis the said Johne and Johne to stand in preif and witnes.
10. To bear witness: (said properly of a person, a book, etc.) to give oral or written testimony or evidence; hence fig. to furnish or constitute evidence or proof; to testify, witness to (occas. of). To bear (one) witness: to corroborate one’s statement or be a witness of one’s action. (Cf. ON. bera vitni, OF. porter temoin.)
c. 1200. Ormin, 12616. I barr to þe leode Wittness off himm, þatt he wass wiss Crist Godess Sune.
c. 1205. Lay., 13231. Ich habbe his munckes … þat sculleð witnesse beren eowe alle biuoren.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6820. Tak þou noght wit tunge leier, Ne fals wittenes for felun ber. Ibid., 12582. Als lucas vs sais þe gospelere, Þat wittnes lel es wont at bere.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2356. Certys þefte ryȝt wykked ys Whan þe dede bereþ wytnes [Pus qe ceo tesmoine le mort].
c. 1325. Spec. Gy Warw., 412. Þe godspel þerof bereþ witnesse.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3612. Þus may saules, als þe buke beres wytnes, By helpyd by way of rightwysnes.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 527. Hire white coroun beryth of it witnesse.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 29. Þre persones parcel-mele departable from oþer, And alle þre bote o god; thus abraam bereþ wittnesse.
1426. Anc. Deed, A. 10383 (P.R.O.). This endentur tripartitit beres wittenes that [etc.].
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, xxxvi. 113. Þe archbischop of Reymes was þere present … and bare witnesse of þe holy lyf of Seynt Gilbert.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxvi. 34. The pepill so wickit ar of feiris, The frutless erde all witness beiris.
1526. Tindale, John viii. 18. I am won that beare witnes off my sylfe, and my father that sent me beareth witnes off me.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 80. In veritie you did, my bones beares witnesse, That since haue felt the vigor of his rage. Ibid., 93. God and the Rope-maker beare me witnesse, That I was sent for nothing but a rope. Ibid. (1610), Temp., III. i. 68. O earth, beare witnes to this sound, And crowne what I professe with kinde euent If I speake true.
1671. Milton, Samson, 239. In seeking just occasion to provoke The Philistine … Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., III. I can bear witness to that.
1839. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia (1863), 59. Her dress … bore witness to a far more improved taste.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., x. To speak of heaven … and to bring it to bear witness to the lie in his mouth.
1842. Tennyson, St. Sim. Styl., 127. And I, in truth (thou wilt bear witness here) Have all in all endured as much.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesthood, ii. 59. The striking witness which he [sc. Judas] bore to the innocence of the Lord.
† 11. To take witness by or of: to take example by.
c. 1400. Anturs Arth., 165 (Thornton MS.). Thus am I lyke to Lucefere, takis witnes by mee. Ibid., 273. Takes witnes by Fraunce.
c. 1480. Henryson, Cock & Fox, 200. Tak witnes of the Feyndis Infernall, Quhilk houndit doun wes fra that heuinlie hall To Hellis hole.
† 12. To bring, teem (TEEM v.1) to witness: to bring under examination. Obs.
c. 1200. Moral Ode, 108 (Trin. Coll. MS.). Elch man sal þar biclepien himselfen and ec demen Hic [read his] oȝen werc and his þanc to witnesse he sal temen.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 12. In how many gret casis may it be, þat now regniþ in þe kirk synful marchondise; bryng to witnes; examyn þe sawis; discusse þe dedis.
† 13. To take witness of: to call or take to witness (see 6 b); to appeal to as an authority or source of information. Obs.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 22583 (Fairf.). I take witnes of saint austine Þat tellis how þis werlde sal fine.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 66. For this witnesse I take of god, that my corage Hath ben mor siek than my visage.
a. 1500. in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ (1844), 38. I take wyttenesse of Davyd kyng and at Salomon the wyse, That a woman for a litulle thyng ofte change hir servyse.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxvii. (1912), 322. I take witnes of the gods (who never leave perjuries unpunished) that I often cried out against their impudency.
14. With a witness: with clear evidence, without a doubt, ‘with a vengeance,’ ‘and no mistake.’ Obs. or rare arch.
1575. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 98. French Camarick Ruffes, deepe with a witnesse, starched to the purpose.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. i. 121. Here’s packing with a witnesse to deceiue vs all.
1609. J. Davies, Triumphs Death, Wks. (Grosart), I. 49/1. For now we sinne (yea with a witnesse sinne, Witnesse our conscience).
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon., vi. (1642), 82. He was sent; but with a witnesse, as the saying is, to destroy.
1670. T. Brooks, Wks. (1867), VI. 198. That man is cursed with a witness that is cursed by Christ himself!
1690. Locke, 2nd Lett. Toleration, Wks. 1727, II. 270. The French King requires all his Subjects to come to Mass: Those who do not, are punished with a witness.
1717. Prior, Alma, I. 444. Gall is bitter with a Witness.
1816. Hazlitt, Pol. Ess. (1819), 103. Here’s a levelling rogue for you! The world turned inside out, with a witness!
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xxiii. To every other person about her she plays countess and baroness with a witness.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, x. (1856), 90. At midnight, it blew great guns, with a witness.
III. 15. attrib. and Comb., as witness-bearer, -bearing sb. and adj. (see 10), -heap (cf. quot. 1528 in 9 a), -judge; witness action, an action in which witnesses are summoned, as distinguished from one in which only matters of law are argued; witness-box, an enclosed space in which a witness is placed while giving evidence; witness chair, a seat for witnesses at a court of inquiry; witness-room, an apartment in which witnesses assemble and remain while not giving evidence; witness-stand U.S., the place where a witness is stationed while giving evidence.
1892. Daily News, 16 July, 7/1. Mr. Justice Kekewich … ordered the motion to be set down as a *witness action.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 531/1. *Wyttenesse berare, testis, testificator, testificatrix.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 59. Alle fals wytnes-bererys.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 1250/1. These vi. heauenly martyrs & witnes bearers of truthe.
1553. M. Wood, trans. Gardiner’s De Vera Obed., 35 b. I folow Tullies meaning, who in the weighti importaunce of *witnes bearing, attributeth authoritie vnto such as be wittie & welthy men.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 8. The whole consent and witnessebearing of the great congregation.
1616. Chapman, trans. Musæus, C 1. The witnesse-bearing-light Of Loues, that would not beare a humane sight.
1848. A. Thomson, Orig. of Secession Ch., iii. 96. Their resolute and unflinching witness-bearing.
1889. Spectator, 2 Feb., 166/1. A very real kind of witness-bearing to what we call the supernatural.
1806. J. Carr, Stranger in Ireland, 299. I was surprised to find … that they had no *witness-box. The witness is hoisted upon the table.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, xliii. Mr. Irwine was in the witness-box, telling of Hetty’s unblemished character.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 16 Feb., 7/2. The ex-Premier … advanced to the *witness chair.
1528. Tindale, Declar. Sacram., a iij. And of al that couenant thei made that heape wytnesse, callenge it ye *wetnessheppe.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XIX. 576. My own experience shall their doom decide; A *witness-judge precludes a long appeal.
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, xxxii. She took her place in the *witness-room, worn and dispirited, but not anxious.
1827. Richmond Enquirer, 23 March, 3/1. Throw off all reserve, gentlemen, and let us have your informant upon the *witness-stand.
1896. Howells, Impressions & Exp., 71. A young man … was called to the witness-stand in behalf of the prosecution.
Hence Witnessdom (see quot. and cf. 8 above).
1877. Ruskin, Fors Clav., lxxxii. VII. 330. Our act may have the … Virtue of Witness-dom, or as we … translate it Martyrdom.
