witness
One who saw
A witness is someone who sees an event firsthand, especially one that may require testimony: Several witnesses saw the accident.
In legal contexts, a witness gives evidence under oath.
To witness something is to observe it: We witnessed history being made.
A witness can also be someone who signs a document to verify another's signature.
Religious usage extends the meaning to one who testifies about faith: bearing witness to God's love.
Bound by formal promise
- oathFormal binding promise
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
stand · perjury · affidavit · corroborate · statement · defense · prosecution · plaintiff
Demonstration of truth
- substantiateProve something is true
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- verificationProving something accurate
authenticate · confirm · certify · validate · support · establish · demonstrate · record
Person who observes
- bystanderOne who observes nearby
- spectatorObserver at an event
- watcherOne who observes
- viewerOne who observes visually
passerby · gawker · rubbernecker · looker-on · firsthand · present · scene · incident
Mark conveying information
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- countersignReply to a watchword
- notaryDocument authentication official
- certifyFormally verify as true
endorse · wedding · contract · will · document · officiant · signatory · affidavit
sworn
Bound by formal promise
- oathFormal binding promise
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
cross-examination · stand · perjury · affidavit · corroborate · statement · defense · prosecution · plaintiff · defendant
proof
Demonstration of truth
- substantiateProve something is true
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
verification · authenticate · confirm · certify · validate · support · establish · demonstrate · record · account
onlooker
Person who observes
viewer · passerby · gawker · rubbernecker · looker-on · firsthand · present · scene · incident · accident
sign
Mark conveying information
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- countersignReply to a watchword
- notaryDocument authentication official
certify · endorse · wedding · contract · will · document · officiant · signatory · affidavit · seal
recall
Memory retrieval act
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- rememberRetain in mind
- accountRecord of dealings
flashback · recount · describe · identify · recognize · lineup · composite · sketch · statement · interview
faith
Trust without proof
- gospelSacred choral tradition
- evangelismPromoting beliefs to others
- believerOne who accepts something
conversion · salvation · mission · proclaim · profess · share · ministry · scripture · apostle · martyr
- courtroomjudge, jury, oath taking, lawyer, bench
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- mysteryclue, detective, suspect, clues, sleuth
- courthousejudge, bailiff, clerk, court reporter, courtroom
- Crime Reportingtip lines, tips, hotline, 911, crime stoppers
- evidenceevidence, evidence bag, circumstantial evidence, proof, admissible
witnessdefendant
Party facing charges
accused · suspect · perpetrator · offender · plaintiff
witnesshearsay
Unverified secondhand information
rumor · conjecture · speculation · guess · surmise
- witness intimidationThreatening courtroom testifiers
- bear witnessGive evidence formally
- witness standPlace for giving testimony
- witness protectionHiding those who testified
- bearing witnessObserving and later attesting
- eye witnessPerson who saw something
witnessed, eyewitness, witnesses, bearing witness, witnessing, unwitnessed, bear witness, witness stand, witness protection