Witness

verb (used with object)
1.
to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception:
to witness an accident.
2.
to be present at (an occurrence) as a formal witness, spectator, bystander, etc.:
She witnessed our wedding.
3.
to bear witness to; testify to; give or afford evidence of.
4.
to attest by one’s signature:
He witnessed her will.
verb (used without object)
5.
to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.
noun
6.
an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness.
7.
a person or thing that affords evidence.
8.
a person who gives testimony, as in a court of law.
9.
a person who signs a document attesting the genuineness of its execution.
10.
testimony or evidence:
to bear witness to her suffering.
11.
(initial capital letter) a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
noun
1.
a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event
2.
a person or thing giving or serving as evidence
3.
a person who testifies, esp in a court of law, to events or facts within his own knowledge
4.
a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his own signature
5.
bear witness

to give written or oral testimony
to be evidence or proof of related adjective testimonial

verb
6.
(transitive) to see, be present at, or know at first hand
7.
to give or serve as evidence (of)
8.
(transitive) to be the scene or setting of: this field has witnessed a battle
9.
(intransitive) to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within a person’s own knowledge
10.
(transitive) to attest to the genuineness of (a document, signature, etc) by adding one’s own signature

More than one witness was required in criminal cases (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). They were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deut. 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matt. 27:1; Acts 7:57, 58). False witnesses were liable to punishment (Deut. 19:16-21). It was also an offence to refuse to bear witness (Lev. 5:1).