be witness to something Definition

witness
noun witnesses

1. Someone who sees, and can therefore give a direct account of, an event or occurrence, etc.

Thesaurus: observer, spectator, corroborator, voucher, bystander.
2. Someone who gives evidence in a court of law.

Thesaurus: corroborator, testifier, voucher, attestant.
3. Someone who adds their own signature to confirm the authenticity of a signature just put on a document, etc.
4. Proof or evidence of anything.

verb witnesses, witnessed, witnessing

1. To be present as an observer at (an event or occurrence, etc).
2. To add one's own signature to confirm the authenticity of (a signature on a document, etc).
intr
3. To give evidence.
4. Said of a period or place, or of a person: to be the setting for, or to live through certain events.

prep

1. As shown by.

Example: Politicians do not get everything right, witness the poll tax

Derivative: witnesser
noun

Idiom: bear witness to something

To be evidence of it.
Thesaurus: attest, testify, testify to, confirm, evidence.

To give confirmation of it.
Thesaurus: attest to, testify to, vouch for, confirm.

Idiom: be witness to something

To be in a position to observe it.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon witnes, from witan to know.

Phrasal Verb: witness something or witness to something

To confirm it.
Example: I can witness to his generosity