eyewitness — A person who has personally seen something happen and so can give a first-hand description of it
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A person who has personally seen something happen and so can give a first-hand description of it
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈaɪˌwɪtnəs/
Example Sentences
- The grandmother was the only eyewitness to the cookie jar robbery in the kitchen.
- Eyewitness accounts of the UFO sighting varied dramatically from person to person.
- The defense attorney questioned the reliability of the eyewitness testimony.
eyewitness
NOUN[/ˈaɪˌwɪtnəs/]
A person who has personally seen something happen and so can give a first-hand description of it
The eyewitness pointed at the suspect from the witness stand.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Eyewitness is a compound word formed by combining 'eye' (the organ of sight) and 'witness' (one who testifies). The term originated in legal contexts to denote a person who directly observes an event and can provide testimony about what they actually saw in court.
Breakdown
eye (organ of sight) + witness (one who testifies or bears witness). The compound literally means 'a person who witnesses with their own eyes,' emphasizing direct personal observation rather than hearsay.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The grandmother was the only eyewitness to the cookie jar robbery in the kitchen.”
“Eyewitness accounts of the UFO sighting varied dramatically from person to person.”
“The defense attorney questioned the reliability of the eyewitness testimony.”
“She became an unwilling eyewitness to her neighbor's embarrassing yoga session through the window.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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