Forms: see prec.; also 4 witnis, 5 wythnesse, wittenessh, 6 wittenish. [f. prec. In some ME. texts forms of the type wittnes (= witnesses) may be inflected forms of WITNE.]
1. trans. To bear witness to (a fact or statement); to testify to, attest; to furnish oral or written evidence of. (a) with simple obj.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13893. He and his lare will lasten ai, Þis will he self wittnes and sai. Ibid., 23820. Þat wittnes us all hali gosspelles.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 82. William of Malmesbirie witnesse it in his writte.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 191. Þat witnisseth holiwrite who-so wil it rede.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6958. We purchace, thurgh oure flateryng,… Lettres, to witnesse oure bounte.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, IV. iii. [ii] (1883), 171. Sidrac wythnesseth the same.
1509. Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 303. She … openly dyde wytnesse this same thynge at the houre of her dethe.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 220. That Goldsmith there, were he not pack’d with her, Could witnesse it: for he was with me then.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. iii. § 2 (1712), 91. Remigius writes that he had it witnessed to him by the free confession of near two hundred men.
1729. T. Innes, Crit. Ess. (1879), 117. Thus we see the antiquity of the settlement of the Scots in Britain witnessed by our own country writers.
1920. P. D. Rogers, Discovery, March, 90/1. The records of the [Royal] Society contain several references to their Royal founder [Charles II.], witnessing his continued interest in the progress of Science.
(b) with obj. clause.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 6609. Ichil þe make messanger … Ichil þat þou wittnesse me þat þe loue ste[de]fast be.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 263. Senec witnesseth openly How that Envie proprely Is of the Court the comun wenche.
c. 1475. Partenay, 1529. I witnesse you … That he was A trew catholike person.
1563. Homilies, II. Prayer, II. 126 b. He wytnesseth in another place, the Martirs … were wont … to be remembred … of the Priest at diuine seruice.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 271. Lorenzo heere Shall witnesse I set forth as soone as you.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., II. ii. E. Were not the party her selfe aliue to witnesse that [etc.].
1859. S. Wilberforce, Sp. Missions (1874), 186. To witness … to the next generation, that England can never be clear from the guilt.
† (c). with complement (for … or inf.). Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 12909 (Gött.). And þar-of es right no farlik, Quen he-self þe wittnes for slik.
1545. Bale, Image Both Ch., I. 41. I will earnestly witnesse hym … before my heauenly father … for one of myne, to haue the inheritaunce with mee.
1565. Shacklock, trans. Hosius’ Hatchet of Heresies, 12 b. Christ, whome the Scriptures wytnesse to haue bene incarnat.
1607. J. Carpenter, Plaine Mans Plough, 26. Noah was witnessed to be A man righteous and perfect.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. vii. 387. Those that knew him witnesse him to be of honest life.
(d) in imperative or subjunctive, as a form of appeal. Now rare.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 608. What-euer ye deme me to do,… I hete you full highly with hert to fulfille,… wittenes our goddes. Ibid., 1488. The fyfte … Was Troylus … That mykell worship wan, witnes ye of story.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 186. Ay me, it is my husband: witnesse you, That he is borne about inuisible. Ibid. (1591), Two Gent., II. vi. 25. And Siluia (witnesse heauen that made her faire) Shewes Iulia but a swarthy Ethiope.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., VIII. 28. While I my Nisa’s perjur’d Faith deplore; Witness ye Pow’rs, by whom she falsly swore!
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, l. Witness you three—I’m not afraid of him.
b. transf. Of a document: To furnish formally attested evidence of. Usually with obj. clause.
1474. Anc. Deed, C. 5555 (P.R.O.). This bylle shalle wytnesse that I Thomas Ormond oweth to Hew Mathew [3l. 6s. 8d.].
a. 1475. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 155/2. Cokettes of all such Clothes … witnessyng the nombre of theym. Ibid. (1503), 527/2. This Indenture … Wytnesseth That whereas [etc.].
1551. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 425. This byll, mad the xvi. day of Aprill … wittenishit that whereas [etc.].
1658. Sir R. Hutton’s Yng. Clerks Guide, I. (ed. 8), 1. This Indenture … witnesseth, That [etc.].
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. xv. And this indenture farther witnesseth, That [etc.].
c. fig. To furnish evidence or proof of; to be a sign or mark of, betoken. Also with obj. clause.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 240. [Pe] water witnessed þat he was god, for he went [= walked] on it.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, II. 253. The tremblynge of the erthe … the darkynge of the sonne wytnesse hym maker of all thynges.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. vi. (1912), 41. All other tokens witnessed them to be of the lowest calling.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. iv. 74. Thy face, and thy behauiour, Which … Witnesse good bringing vp.
1599. T. Storer, Life & Death Wolsey, G 3. The stones may witnesse shee was there.
1600. Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., I. ii. C 5. The Director whose high erected scituation witnesseth his prerogatiue.
1630. Randolph, Aristippus, 12. You cannot ride to Ware or to Barkway, but your Hackneyes sides must witnesse your iourneyes.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., iv. 8. As the wounds we have upon us can but too well witness.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1792), III. 87. This tear will witness for me, that I do not mean to insult you.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 415. His shoulders witnessing by many a shrug How much his feelings suffer’d.
1796. Charlotte Smith, Marchmont, I. 259. The gilding and carving … witnessed the expence that had once been lavished on it.
1813. Eustace, Class. Tour (1821), I. viii. 292. The banks of the river, for many a mile, witnessed the rout of the Carthaginians.
1843. Macaulay, Horatius, lxv. And there it stands unto this day To witness if I lie.
† d. To give evidence of by one’s behavior; to make evident; to evince. Obs.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 168. His kinred and the mother chiefe did many a teare let fall Their woe to witnesse.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XXXV. vii. Even gnashing teeth, to witness more their spight.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Laws of Candy, III. i. To finde occasion wherein I might witnesse My duty and obedience.
1660. Pepys, Diary, 15 April. Captain Dekings, an anabaptist, and one that had witnessed a great deal of discontent with the present proceedings.
1671. Milton, P. R., III. 107. I seek not mine, but his Who sent me, and thereby witness whence I am.
a. 1700. Dryden, Cymon & Iphig., 112. Long mute he stood, and leaning on his Staff, His Wonder witness’d with an Ideot laugh.
1728. Pope, Dunc., I. 105 (v.r.). He roll’d his eyes that witness’d a huge dismay.
e. To show forth evidence of or as to (an object of allegiance) by faithful speech or conduct; to be a witness for. Also with cognate obj. Now rare or Obs.
1526. Tindale, 1 Tim. vi. 13. Iesus Christ whych vnder Poncius Pilate witnessed a good witnessynge [1562 Rheims and 1611 Confession]. Ibid. (1534), John v. 32. I know that the witnesse which he witnesseth of me, is true.
1659. South, Serm., Matt. x. 33 (1697), I. 117. To be a Martyr signifies only to witness the truth of Christ.
1663. in Jrnl. Friends Hist. Soc., XIX. 22. Ye glorious truth of God witnessed out by those contemned Christians wch in scorn are called Quakers.
1680. C. Nesse, Ch. Hist. (1681), 333. John Baptist, who had Witnessed him into the World.
1833. Tracts for Times, I. No. 10. 4. That very confirmation is another ordinance, in which the Bishop witnesses Christ.
2. intr. To bear oral or written witness; to testify. Now usually with to or against.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11075. Forþi of him witnes [? witnessis] þus Vr lauerd,… ‘O wijf,’ he said, ‘was neuer born nan A gretter barn þan sant iohan.’
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 268. Þat, as ierome & anselm witnessen,… here abitis ben ful of lesyngis. Ibid. (c. 1380), Sel. Wks., III. 436. At þe day of dom … Crist and hise lawe shal witnesse aȝen ȝou.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan, 363. Þe pistel witnesseþ wel Of þat profete.
c. 1400. Maundev., ii. (1919), 7. As the storye of Noe witnesseth whan þat the culuer brought the braunche of Olyue.
c. 1450. Merlin, 56. And as the boke witnessith, Vter venquysshed the bataile.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 131. As his vncles … gaf & grauntid … to þe fore-seide minchons, as her charturs witnessin.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., a j. Many other notable … thyngys to the plesure of noble personys shall be shewyd as the werkys folowyng witteneses.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 1056. Idlenes hath ben cause of much wyckednes, As Ecclesiasticus doeth playnely wytnes.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 218. Oh, when the last accompt twixt heauen & earth is to be made, then shall this hand and Seale Witnesse against vs to damnation. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. i. 11. I witnesse to The times that brought them in.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 259, ¶ 6. The Prisoner brought several Persons of good Credit to witness to her Reputation.
1771. Goldsm., Hist. Eng., IV. 5. He avowed his innocence, called heaven to witness to his veracity.
1870. Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 27. His simplicity … and earnestness are similarly witnessed to.
b. fig. (cf. 1 c).
1592. Greene, Groat’s W. Wit, F 2. Lette their owne works serue to witnesse against their owne wickednesse.
1611. Bible, Isa. iii. 9. The shew of their countenance doeth witnesse against them.
1835. Newman, Par. Serm., III. vi. 93. Works of obedience witness to God’s just claims upon us.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Lost Bower, xlvii. The golden-hearted daisies Witnessed there … To the truth of things.
1856. Aytoun, Bothwell, V. xiv. How many churches, wrapped in flames, Have witnessed to the spoilers’ power!
1860. Mozley, Univ. Serm., vii. (1877), 153. So subtle an hypothesis … witnesses to a curious phenomenon.
† c. In pres. pple. absolute: Witnessing (so-and-so): = WITNESS sb. 7 b. Obs.
c. 1400. Maundev., Prol. (1839), 2. [The Holy Land] is the Herte and the myddes of all the World; wytnessynge the Philosophere, that seythe thus; Vertus rerum in medio consistit.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., i. 4. To goo yndir the ȝoke of penance … is not hard, witnessing þe sauiour…, wher he seithe … Lo! my ȝoke … is swete.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. III. xii. 43. Our sayd lorde wytnessynge and sayeng. Wbo so euer for my loue forsaketh father or mother [etc.].
3. trans. a. To give formal or sworn evidence of (a fact, etc.); to depose in evidence. Now rare.
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 65 b. Þe avisurs of þe siknesse sullen ben destreined to comen to þe curt to witnessen hoere siȝt.
1428. Munim. de Melros (Bann.), 519. I wes requeryt … for to wytnes vndir wryt þe thyng at wes determynyt befor me in iugement.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Mark xv. 4. Answerest thou nothing? bebolde how manie things thei witnes against thee.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 172. The Aiax hie and Heraults eke can witnesse well his minde,… they heard the talke.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 200. Me thought you saide You saw one heere in Court could witnesse it.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. 177. They did all of them witnesse one and the same thing; That I was the sonne of a principall Cavallero.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, III. (1724), I. 586. If they would not witness treasonable matter against Baillie.
b. To attest formally by signature; to sign (a document) as a witness of its execution. Also absol.
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 54 b. Witnessinde vs sulf at Gaunt þe vifte dai of Octobre.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 131. To weende with hem to westmunster to Witnesse þe deede.
1439. Rolls of Parlt., V. 32/2. Licence of the said Chifteyne wittenessed undre his seall.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 27. Thys wytnessyth Alysaunder, of lyncolne bysshop, and many odyr. Ibid., 275. To this present writyng their commune seale … they have put to, witnessyng theire Chapiter.
1668. Shadwell, Sullen Lovers, III. 46. Sir Pos. Come Sir, do you Witness it. 2 Clerk. Ay Sir. he sets his hand.
1718. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. (1887), I. 240. A writing is drawn and witnessed.
1776. Trial of Nundocomar, 102/1. Maha Rajah said it was necessary to witness it to make it pukka.
1853. Mrs. Gaskell, Ruth, xviii. There! that’s what I call a will; witnessed according to law, and all.
1871. Le Fanu, Rose & Key, II. 38. Lady Vernon touches the bell, sends for her secretary, and … seals, signs, and delivers it in his presence…. And now he has duly ‘witnessed’ it.
1912. Engl. Hist. Rev., Jan., 50. John Chishull witnesses as chancellor pretty constantly in the roll of 53 Henry III.
c. To be formally present as a witness of (a transaction).
1363. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 60. Hit witen and witnessen þat woneþ vppon eorþe, Þat I, Fauuel, Feffe Fals to þat Mayden Meede.
1849. Sir J. Stephen, Eccl. Biog. (1850), I. 43. By his side … sat Agnes the Empress-mother, brought there to witness and to ratify the judgment to be pronounced on her only child.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xiii. I would be much obliged to you if you could step round to the … Bank with me. I want you to witness what passes.
4. (transf. from 3 c.) To be a witness, spectator or auditor of (something of interest, importance or special concern); to experience by personal (esp. ocular) observation; to be present as an observer at; to see with one’s own eyes. In early use said mainly of the eyes or the ears. (In loose writing often used merely as a synonym of ‘see.’)
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 43. Thee Troians … Whose fatal misery my sight hath wytnesed heauye.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Northw. Hoe, III. i. Take but that corner and stand close, and thine eyes shall witnesse it.
1657. Cokaine, Obst. Lady, V. iv. I will make known how much you are her Servant, and what affection my ears have witnessed.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, XXXIII. 110. Others enclustred about him to dispatch him of his life, more enuious against him now, through his Noblenesse which they witnessed.
1613. Chapman, Rev. Bussy D’Ambois, IV. H 3. I neuer witness’d a more noble loue, Nor a more ruthfull sorrow.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 700. To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps Contented with report heare onely in heav’n.
1710. Shaftesb., Charac. (1711), I. III. I. ii. 175. There is nothing ever so trivial … that he is not desirous shou’d be witness’d by the Party, whose Grace … he sollicits.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 144. And witness, dear companion of my walks,… a joy that thou hast doubled long.
1787. Generous Attachment, I. 26. I witnessed the uneasiness Mr. Melville endured.
1792. G. Wakefield, Mem. (1804), I. 294. I met with an opportunity … of witnessing a most extraordinary ventriloquist.
1796. Southey, Lett. fr. Spain, xii. (1799), 164. Never did I witness a more melancholy scene of devastation.
1827. Macaulay, Ess., Machiavelli (1843), I. 68. They witnessed the arrangement of the pullies, and the manufacture of the thunders.
1836. Hints on Etiquette (ed. 2), 30. Do not pick your teeth much at table, as … to witness it is not a pleasant thing.
1873. L. Stephen, Ess. Freethinking, 8. We are, however, passing through a great change, of which no living man can expect to witness the end.
1878. Morley, Diderot, I. iv. 79. As he could not witness the experiment, he began to meditate on the subject.
1912. Times, 19 Oct., 5/1. Large crowds witnessed their departure, but no demonstration occurred.
const. clause. 1825. Scott, Talism., xxiii. Thou art wise … and generous…. I have witnessed that thou art both.
absol. 1810. Wordsw., Descr. Lakes (1822), 121. The Lake of Uri … is disturbed from the bottom, as I was told, and indeed as I witnessed, without any apparent commotion in the air.
b. fig. Of a place, time, etc.: To be associated with (a fact or event); to be the scene or setting of; to ‘see.’
1785. Anna Seward, Lett. (1811), I. 78. That immortal fountain and valley, which had witnessed the beauty of Laura.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., VI. i. What various scenes … Are witness’d by that red and struggling beam!
1813. Eustace, Class. Tour (1821), III. iii. 104. These fertile plains … once witnessed the defeat and death of a Gothic monarch.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, iii. March and October have witnessed me ever as they came round, for thirty years, deal with the best barley in Shropshire.
1864. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., xv. (1866), 264. The thirteenth [century] witnessed the rapid spread of the scholastic philosophy.
1881. Froude, Short Stud. (1883), IV. II. iii. 194. The scenes which those harbours had witnessed thousands of years ago.
