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To bear witness; to testify under oath; to make deposition. Then, seeing't was he that made you to despose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Shak.

To witness against; to denounce; to condemn. [Obs.] The heresy of Nestorius . . . was detested in the Eastern churches. Fuller. God hath detested them with his own mouth. Bale.

nticipation the horrors of the Highland seers, whom their gift of deuteroscopy compels to witness things unmeet for mortal eye. Sir W. Scott.

h persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings. To do one's diligence, give diligence, use diligence, to exert one's self; to make interested and earnest endeavor. And each of them doth all his diligence To do unto the festé reverence. C…

es for its credibility. Wharton. -- Direct examination (Law), the first examination of a witness in the orderly course, upon the merits. Abbott. -- Direct fire (Mil.), fire, the direction of which is perpendicular to the line of troops or to the parapet aimed at. -- Direct process (Metal.), one which yields metal in…

nership of, or responsibility for; to disown; to disavow; to reject. He calls the gods to witness their offense; Disclaims the war, asserts his innocence. Dryden. He disclaims the authority of Jesus. Farmer.

ment; -- applied to persons or to things, and to thoughts, feelings, or purposes. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov. vi. 19. Peace to arise out of universal discord fomented in all parts of the empire. Burke.

An opening or unfolding; exhibition; manifestation. Having witnessed displays of his power and grace. Trench.

ion; to disable; to debar legally; as, a conviction of perjury disqualifies a man to be a witness.

ejection, or guilt. 'T is love, said she; and then my downcast eyes, And guilty dumbness, witnessed my surprise. Dryden. - Down"cast`ly, adv. -- Down"cast`ness, n.

e; as, to establish a fact, usage, principle, opinion, doctrine, etc. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. Deut. xix. 15.

One who bears witness. [R.] "Infamous and perjured evidences." Sir W. Scott.

y. Examination in chief, or Direct examination (Law), that examination which is made of a witness by a party calling him. -- Cross-examination, that made by the opposite party. -- Reëxamination, or Re-direct examination, that made by a party calling a witness, after, and upon matters arising out of, the cross- examin…

To interrogate as in a judicial proceeding; to try or test by question; as, to examine a witness in order to elicit testimony, a student to test his qualifications, a bankrupt touching the state of his property, etc. The offenders that are to be examined. Shak.

exception; to object; -- usually followed by to, sometimes by against; as, to except to a witness or his testimony. Except thou wilt except against my love. Shak.

The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering. "Guided by other's experiences." Shak. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, a…

To be overthrown or captured; to be destroyed. Heaven and earth will witness, If Rome must fall, that we are innocent. Addison.

Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false witness.

Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty. The principal thing required in a witness is fidelity. Hooker.

to unite persons in marriage (called Fleet marriage) at any hour, without public notice, witnesses, or consent of parents.