"police are appealing for witnesses to the accident"

• a person giving sworn testimony to a court of law or the police

  "a key witness at the trial"

• a person who is present at the signing of a document and signs it themselves to confirm this

  "a deed signed in the presence of a witness"

"the memorial service was witness to the wide circle of his interests"

• used to refer to confirmation or evidence given by signature or under oath

  "in witness thereof, the parties sign this document"

• open profession of one's religious faith through words or actions

  "they will be able to give witness of their faith and confidence in God"

"staff who witnessed the murder"

• be present as someone signs (a document) or gives (their signature) to a document and sign it oneself to confirm this

  "the clerk witnessed her signature"

"what we are witnessing is the birth of a new political entity"

• be the place, period, or setting in which (an event or development) takes place

  "the 1980s witnessed an unprecedented increase in the scope of the electronic media"

• be a sign or proof of (something); serve as evidence

  "the mid-1980s saw an intensification of interest in community care, as witnessed by the publication of four major reports"

• used to introduce an example that proves a preceding statement

  "the nuclear family is a vulnerable institution—witness the rates of marital breakdown"

"one of the purposes of his coming was to nerve the disciples to witness to Jesus"