[f. EYE sb.1 + WITNESS.]
† 1. One who gives testimony to what he has seen with his own eyes. Obs.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 43. One eye wytnesse, is of more value, then tenne are wytnesses.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1278. Which yet to prove more true, he meant to see, And an ey-witnes of each thing to bee.
2. One who can give testimony from his own observation; one who has seen a thing done or happen.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 57. I do not write the same of mine owne certaine knowledge, as a eye wittness.
1611. Bible, 2 Pet. i. 16. Wee … were eye witnesses of his Maiestie.
1615. W. Hull, Mirrour of Maiestie, 89. The death of such a sonne … whereof shee was an eyed witnesse.
1694. Ld. Molesworth, Acc. Denmark, 44. Received not only from eye-witnesses, but also from some of the principal … Actors.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 17. 10. Leo Africanus … describes, as an eye witness, the making of tar on mount Atlas.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, i. 17. Brantome, an eye-witness … informs us.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 93. Different estimates were formed even by eyewitnesses.
1878. N. Amer. Rev., CXXVI. 180. It is the narration, by an eye-witness, of the memorable coup d’état of 1851.
† 3. The result of actual observation; a report made by one who was present. Obs.
1627. Hakewill, Apol., I. i. § 5. 9. By the eye-witnesse of Ioachimus Rheticus, and others, it hath been proved.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1594. Give us … Eye-witness of what first or last was done.
Hence Eyewitnessing vbl. sb.
1857. H. Miller, Test. Rocks, iv. 154. Had they been revealed by vision as a piece of eye-witnessing.
