Witness



GRE TOEFL 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 目击者 v. 目击
• ［英］ n. 目击者 ( someone who is present when something happens) ;
• ［类］ subpoena : witness / conscript : soldier ( 传讯证人 / 征招士兵)

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: Middle English witnesse, from Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from ［sup］2［/sup］wit
• Date: before 12th century
• 1. attestation of a fact or event ; testimony
• 2. one that gives evidence; specifically one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal
• 3. one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place
• 4. one who has personal knowledge of something
• 5.
  • a. something serving as evidence or proof ; sign
  • b. public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction <the heroic witness to divine life — Pilot>
• 6. capitalized a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses

II. verb

• Date: 14th century
• transitive verb
  • 1. to testify to ; attest
  • 2. to act as legal witness of
  • 3. to furnish proof of ; betoken
  • 4.
    • a. to have personal or direct cognizance of ; see for oneself <witnessed the historic event>
    • b. to take note of <our grammar— witness our verb system—is a marvel of flexibility, variety, and exactitude — Charlton Laird>
  • 5. to constitute the scene or time of <structures…which this striking Dorset hilltop once witnessed — Times Literary Supplement>
• intransitive verb
  • 1. to bear witness ; testify
  • 2. to bear witness to one's religious convictions <opportunity to witness for Christ — Billy Graham>
• Synonyms: see certify

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