Witness
/ˈwɪt.nəs/noun
A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
Did you know?In ancient rituals, a 'witness' was often thought to be a mediator between the divine and mortal realms, signifying the importance of witnessing in spiritual truths.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weyd-
“to see, to know, to perceive.”
Old English
Old English
witan
“to know, to be aware.”
Old English
Old English
witnessa
“one who knows or can testify.”
Middle English
Middle English
witnesse
“a person who gives evidence.”
Modern English
English
witness
“a person who observes an event.”