witness — a person who sees an event happen
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who sees an event happen
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɪtnəs/
Example Sentences
- The only witness to my terrible cooking was my cat, who immediately left the kitchen.
- She will witness the wedding ceremony next Saturday.
- The tree has witnessed a hundred years of changes in this neighborhood.
witness
NOUN[/ˈwɪtnəs/]
a person who sees an event happen
Several witnesses saw the accident and gave statements to the police.
The witness testified about what she had seen. (SEE IT + TESTIFY = WITNESS)
A witness's alertness, like fitness, comes from readiness.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'witnes', derived from 'wit' (knowledge, understanding) combined with the suffix '-ness' (state or quality of). The word originally meant 'knowledge' or 'testimony' before evolving to mean a person who has knowledge of an event.
Breakdown
wit (knowledge, understanding) + -ness (state/quality of) = witness (one who has knowledge of something)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The only witness to my terrible cooking was my cat, who immediately left the kitchen.”
“She will witness the wedding ceremony next Saturday.”
“The tree has witnessed a hundred years of changes in this neighborhood.”
“My phone witnessed me singing in the shower and now refuses to work properly.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.