witness: [OE] Witness originally meant ‘knowledge’ or ‘wisdom’; it was simply an abstract noun formed from wit. This was extended via ‘knowledge gained by observation’ to ‘testimony’ in the Old English period, and by the beginning of the Middle English period ‘person who gives testimony’ was well established. => wit
witness (n.)
Old English witnes "attestation of fact, event, etc., from personal knowledge;" also "one who so testifies;" originally "knowledge, wit," formed from wit (n.) + -ness. Christian use (late 14c.) is as a literal translation of Greek martys (see martyr). Witness stand is recorded from 1853.
witness (v.)
c. 1300, "bear testimony," from witness (n.). Meaning "affix one's signature to (a document) to establish its identity" is from early 14c. Meaning "see or know by personal presence, observe" is from 1580s. Related: Witnessed; witnessing.
例文
1. His girlfriend had gone into the witness box and taken the oath.
彼のガールフレンドが証人席に入り、誓った。
2.The plaintiff 's sole witness ，a gambler and layabout，was easily discredited.
原告唯一の証人はギャンブル好きで遊び人で、その証言はあっという間に覆された。
3.The convictions rest solely on disputed witness and confessional statements.
争議のある目撃者の証言と供述だけで罪を定めた。
4.Too often children are witness to a disturbing amount of violence.
子どもたちは暴力を目にすることが多く、その数の多さに不安を感じている。
5.One eye- witness said the rioters were engaged in an orgy of destruction.