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wit·ness 1 n [Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from wit mind, sense, knowledge]1 a: attestation of a fact or eventin witness whereof the parties have executed this releaseb: evidence (as of the authenticity of a conveyance by deed) furnished by signature, oath, or seal2: one who gives evidence regarding matters of fact under inquiry; specif: one who testifies or is legally qualified to testify in a case or to give evidence before a judicial tribunal or similar inquirya witness before a congressional committeeno person...shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself — U.S. Constitution amend. V compare affiant, deponentadverse witness: a witness who is called by or associated with an opposing party or who by statement, conduct, or other evidence (as of relationship) shows bias against or is injurious to the case of the party by whom the witness is calledsought to have his witness declared an adverse witness subject to impeachment – called also hostile witness; see also leading question at question 1alibi witness: a witness upon whom a criminal defendant relies in establishing an alibichar·ac·ter witness: a witness who testifies as to the character or reputation esp. of a criminal defendant: a witness who gives character evidenceexpert witness: a witness (as a medical specialist) who by virtue of special knowledge, skill, training, or experience is qualified to provide testimony to aid the factfinder in matters that exceed the common knowledge of ordinary peoplehostile witness: adverse witness in this entrylay witness: a witness who is not an expert witnessmaterial witness: a witness whose testimony is necessary for trial and whose presence may sometimes be secured by the state by subpoena, custody, or recognizanceprosecuting witness: a witness (as the victim of a crime) whose own allegations initiate the prosecution of the defendantqualified witness: a witness who has sufficient understanding of a record-keeping system to provide testimony that forms the proper foundation for admission of evidence under the business records exception to the hearsay rulerebuttal witness: a witness called upon to rebut evidence already presented3: one who is called on to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its occurrence; specif: one who sees the execution of an instrument and signs it to confirm its authenticitya witness to a will4: eyewitnessa witness to an assaultbear witness: to furnish or constitute proof or evidencewitness 2 vt1: to furnish evidence or proof of2: to act as witness of: asa: to see the execution of (an instrument) and sign for the purpose of establishing authenticitywitness a willb: to be formally present as a witness of (as a transaction or the execution of a convict)3 a: to see or experience directlyb: to take note ofvi: to bear witness: give evidencewitness 3 adj: being an object or location used to ascertain a precise boundary point esp. on a corner of a tract when marking that point itself is impracticable or impossiblea witness treea witness corner
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
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I
noun
attestant, attestor, beholder, bystander, compurgator, corroborator, deponent, informant, informer, looker, looker-on, observer, one who gives testimony, onlooker, person affording evidence, reporter, swearer, testifier, testis
associated concepts: adverse witness, attestation, attesting witness, available witness, call as a witness, compel the attendance of witnesses, competent disinterested witness, competent witness, confronting a witness, credible witness, cross-examination, discredited witness, disinterested witness, expert witness, eyewitness, hostile witness, impeachment of a witness, material witness, nonexpert witness, prosecution witness, res gestae witness, skilled witness, specially qualified witness, state witness, subscribing witness, tampering with a witness, voluntary witness
foreign phrases:
- Habemus optimum testem, confitentem reum. — We have the best witness, a confessing defendant- Nemo allegans suam turpitudinem audien dus est — No one should be permitted to testify as a witness to his own baseness or wickedness- Nullus idoneus testis in re sua intelligitur. — No person is deemed to be a competent witness in his own behalf- Judex non potest esse testis in propria causa. — A judge cannot be a witness in his own case.- Jurato creditur in judicio. — He who makes an oath is to be believed in a judicial proceeding- Quod constat curiae opere testium non indiget. — That which is clear to the court needs not the help of witnesses.- Nemo tenetur edere instrumenta contra se. — No one is bound to produce writings against himself- Nemo tenetur jurare in suam turpitudinem. — No one is bound to testify to his own turpitude- Nemo tenetur prodere seipsum. — No one is bound to betray himself.- Testis nemo in sua causa esse potest. — No one can be a witness in his own cause- Testis de visu praeponderat aliis. — An eyewitness is preferred to others- Nemo in propria causa testis esse debet. — No one ought to be a witness in his own causeII (attest to) verb acknowledge, affirm, authenticate, bear out, bear witness, certify, confirm, corroborate, cosign, countersign, endorse, give evidence, give testimony, say under oath, sign, substantiate, sustain, swear, take one's oath, testari, testificari, testify to, testimonium dicere, undersign, uphold, validate, verify, vouch for, warrant associated concepts: witness a crime, witness a document, witness a will III (have direct knowledge of) verb be a spectator, be present and note, behold, mark, note, notice, observe, recognize, see, sight, spectare, spot, take cognizance of, videre, view, watch IV index attest, avow, bystander, bystander, corroboration, declarant, deponent, depose (testify), discern (detect with the senses), indicator, informant, notarize, note (notice), notice (observe), perceive, pierce (discern), regard (pay attention), subscribe (sign), verify (swear), vouch
Burton's Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006
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n.A person who has seen or experienced some event; a person who testifies under oath about seeing or experiencing some event, or about the character of someone involved in a lawsuit. See also character witness, material witness
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
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a person who gives evidence; in court such evidence must be given on oath or by affirmation.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
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A person who testifies under oath at a deposition or trial, providing firsthand or expert evidence. The term also refers to someone who watches another person sign a document and then adds his or her name to confirm (called "attesting") that the signature is genuine.Category: Criminal LawCategory: If, When & Where to File a LawsuitCategory: Mediation, Arbitration & Collaborative LawCategory: Representing Yourself in CourtCategory: Small Claims CourtCategory: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
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1 n. A person who gives testimony under oath and penalty of perjury in a court of law2 v. To observe the execution of a legal document and to authenticate it by affixing one's name to it.@ adverse witness=>> hostile witness.@ character witnessOne who testifies to the reputation of another as a reliable, reputable member of the community. Character witnesses may be used to support or impugn the testimony of a key party.=>> witness.@ expert witness=>> expert.@ hostile witnessOne whose adverse relationship to a party may prejudice his or her testimony against that party. A person declared to be a hostile witness may be asked leading questions and may be cross-examined by the party who called him or her.n. A witness who is expected to make assertions that are adverse to those being set forth by the party calling the witness. Because of the adverse nature, the questioning lawyer is given wide latitude to question the hostile witness by way of leading questions, not ordinarily permitted on direct examination. Typically called to establish the truth of matters that cannot be proved through a friendly witness.=>> witness.@ lay witnessA witness other than an expert witness.=>> witness.@ material witnessA witness called to testify about an important or essential matter, or a matter having a logical and necessary connection to the facts under consideration.=>> witness.@
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
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One who personally sees or perceives a thing; one who testifies as to what he has seen, heard, or otherwise observed.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
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1) n. a person who testifies under oath in a trial (or a deposition which may be used in a trial if the witness is not available) with first-hand or expert evidence useful in a lawsuit. A party to the lawsuit (plaintiff or defendant) may be a witness.2) n. a person who sees an event.3) n. a person who observes the signing of a document like a will or a contract and signs as a witness on the document attesting that the document was signed in the presence of the witness.4) v. to sign a document verifying that he/she observed the execution of the document such as a will.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
