Tra từ witness - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

wit·ness [witness witnesses witnessed witnessing] noun, verb BrE [ˈwɪtnəs] NAmE [ˈwɪtnəs]
noun

PERSON WHO SEES STH
1. (also eye·wit·ness)countable a person who sees sth happen and is able to describe it to other people
• Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.
•a witness to the killing

IN COURT
2. countable a person who gives evidence in court
•a defence/prosecution witness
•to appear as (a) witness for the defence/prosecution
• Several witnesses testified that there had been two gunmen.

OF SIGNATURE
3. countable a person who is present when an official document is signed and who also signs it to prove that they saw this happen
• He was one of the witnesses at our wedding.

OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
4. uncountable evidence of a person's strong religious beliefs, that they show by what they say and do in public
see also ↑Jehovah's Witness

Word Origin:
Old English witnes (see ↑wit, ↑-ness).

Collocations:
Crime
Committing a crime
commit a crime/a murder/a violent assault/a brutal killing/an armed robbery/fraud
be involved in terrorism/a suspected arson attack/people smuggling/human trafficking
engage/participate in criminal activity/illegal practices/acts of mindless vandalism
steal sb's wallet/purse/(BrE) mobile phone/(NAmE) cell phone
rob a bank/a person/a tourist
break into/ (BrE) burgle/ (NAmE) burglarize a house/a home/an apartment
hijack a plane/ship/bus
smuggle drugs/weapons/arms/immigrants
launder drug money (through sth)
forge documents/certificates/passports
take/accept/pay sb/offer (sb) a bribe
run a phishing/an email/an Internet scam
Fighting crime
combat/fight crime/terrorism/corruption/drug trafficking
prevent/stop credit-card fraud/child abuse/software piracy
deter/stop criminals/burglars/thieves/shoplifters/vandals
reduce/tackle/crack down on knife/gun/violent/street crime; (especially BrE) antisocial behaviour
foil a bank raid/a terrorist plot
help/support/protect the victims of crime
Investigating crime
report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/(especially BrE) an incident to the police
witness the crime/attack/murder/incident
investigate a murder/(especially NAmE) a homicide/a burglary/a robbery/the alleged incident
conduct/launch/pursue an investigation (into…); (especially BrE) a police/murder inquiry
investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case
examine/investigate/find fingerprints at the crime scene/the scene of crime
collect/gather forensic evidence
uncover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons
describe/identify a suspect/the culprit/the perpetrator/the assailant/the attacker
question/interrogate a suspect/witness
solve/crack the case
more collocations at ↑justice

Collocations:
Criminal justice
Breaking the law
break/violate/obey/uphold the law
be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
be arrested/ (especially NAmE) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US) felony charges
be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially NAmE) homicide/four counts of fraud
face two charges of indecent assault
admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for sth)
deny the allegations/claims/charges
confess to a crime
grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
The legal process
stand/await/bring sb to/come to/be on trial
take sb to/come to/settle sth out of court
face/avoid/escape prosecution
seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
sit/stand/appear/be put/place sb in the dock
plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
be called to/enter (BrE) the witness box
take/put sb on the stand/(NAmE) the witness stand
call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of sb
raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
reach a unanimous/majority verdict
return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
secure a conviction/your acquittal
lodge/file an appeal
appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
Sentencing and punishment
pass sentence on sb
carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
receive/be given the death penalty
be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
do/serve time/ten years
be sent to/put sb in/be released from jail/prison
be/put sb/spend X years on death row
be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
more collocations at ↑crime

Synonyms:
witness
observer • onlooker • passer-by • bystander • eyewitness
These are all words for a person who sees sth happen.
witness • a person who sees sth happen and is able to describe it to other people; a person who gives evidence in a court of law: ▪ Police have appealed for ▪ witnesses to ▪ the accident.
observer • a person who sees sth happen: ▪ According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.
onlooker • a person who watches sth that is happening but is not involved in it: ▪ A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash.
passer-by • a person who is going past sb/sth by chance, especially when sth unexpected happens: ▪ Police asked passers-by if they had witnessed the accident.
bystander • a person who is near and can see what is happening when sth such as an accident or fight takes place: ▪ Three ▪ innocent bystanders ▪ were killed in the crossfire.
eyewitness • a person who has seen a crime or accident and can describe it afterwards.
a(n) witness/observer/onlooker/passer-by/bystander/an eyewitness sees sth
a(n) observer/onlooker/passer-by/bystander witnesses sth

Example Bank:
•A judicial investigation was ordered, but witnesses were threatened and none would testify.
•According to witnesses, the thief escaped through the bedroom window.
•As the last person to see her alive, he was a material witness in the case.
•He was charged with conspiracy to suborn witnesses.
•He was placed on a witness protection scheme.
•He was subpoenaed as a witness in a bankruptcy case.
•Police have so far failed to trace any witnesses to the attack.
•She appeared as a character witness.
•She was the only witness to identify Peters as the attacker.
•She went into a witness protection program.
•The ancient temples bear silent witness to the passing dynasties.
•The defence called their first witness.
•The jury convicted him on two counts of witness tampering.
•The next witness took the stand.
•The police are appealing for witnesses.
•Two witnesses came forward with evidence.
•Witnesses reported that the suspect was a white male.
•Would you be willing to act as a witness to my signature when I sign my will?
•a witness to murder
•the defence's chief witness
•the marriage contract is signed in front of witnesses
•Several witnesses testified that there had been two gunmen.
•She appeared as a witness for the prosecution.
•We have a witness to the killing.
•When you sign the contract you'll need a witness.
•a prosecution/defence witness
Idioms: ↑bear witness ▪ ↑witness to something

verb

SEE STH
1. transitive ~ sth to see sth happen (typically a crime or an accident)
• She was shocked by the violent scenes she had witnessed.
• Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
•The novel is based on an event that he himself had witnessed.
•I couldn't bear to witness their suffering.
•We are now witnessing an unprecedented increase in violent crime.
•We had witnessed one of the most outstanding theatrical performances of the decade.

OF TIME/PLACE
2. transitive ~ sth to be the place, period, organization, etc. in which particular events take place
•Recent years have witnessed a growing social mobility.
•The retail trade is witnessing a sharp fall in sales.

SIGNATURE
3. transitive ~ sth to be present when an official document is signed and sign it yourself to prove that you saw this happen
•to witness a signature
• The document was witnessed by a lawyer.

BE SIGN/PROOF
4. transitive, intransitive, usually passive to be a sign or proof of sth
•~ sth There has been increasing interest in her life and work, as witnessed by the publication of two new biographies.
•~ to sth The huge attendance figures for the exhibition witness to a healthy interest in modern art.
5. transitive ~ sth (formal)used when giving an example that proves sth you have just said
•Authentic Italian cooking is very healthy— witness the low incidence of heart disease in Italy.

TO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
6. intransitive ~ (to sth) (especially NAmE)to speak to people about your strong religious beliefs
Syn: ↑testify
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English witnes (see ↑wit, ↑-ness).

Synonyms:
notice
note • detect • observe • witness
These words all mean to see sth, especially when you pay careful attention to it.
notice • to see, hear or become aware of sb/sth; to pay attention to sb/sth: ▪ The first thing I noticed about the room was the smell.
note • (rather formal) to notice or pay careful attention to sth: ▪ Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday.
This word is very common in business English: ▪ Note that the prices are inclusive of VAT.
detect • to discover or notice sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear, etc: ▪ The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
observe • (formal) to see or notice sb/sth: ▪ Have you observed any changes lately? ◇ ▪ The police observed a man enter the bank.
witness • (rather formal) to see sth happen: ▪ Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
to notice/note/detect/observe that/how/what/where/who…
to notice/observe/witness sth happen/sb do sth

Example Bank:
•I couldn't bear to witness their suffering.
•Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
•The last century witnessed an unprecedented increase in violent crime.
•We had witnessed one of the most outstanding theatrical performances of the decade.

See also: ↑eyewitness