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itable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy. "A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles." A. Norton. The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object. Coleridge. According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more reli…

ce to the action." Dryden. He had some reluctance to obey the summons. Sir W. Scott. Bear witness, Heaven, with what reluctancy Her helpless innocence I doom to die. Dryden.

ence, lacking earnestness or activity; languid; slow. Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness. Milton. These nervous, bold; those languid and remiss. Roscommon. Its motion becomes more languid and remiss. Woodward.

A description or statement; as, the representation of an historian, of a witness, or an advocate.

To bring forward again; as, to reproduce a witness; to reproduce charges; to reproduce a play.

Seeking information; authorized to examine witnesses or ascertain facts; as, a rogatory commission. Woolsey.

Half proof; evidence from the testimony of a single witness. [Obs.] Bailey.

official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit. Rom. i. 9. Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Gen. xxix. 18. No man can serve two masters. Matt. vi. 24. Had I but served my God with…

e of antiquity. Willis. Spiriting away (Law), causing to leave; the offense of inducing a witness to leave a jurisdiction so as to evade process requiring attendance at trial.

A place where a witness stands to testify in court.

uncil only with the addition of certain judges. It could proceed on mere rumor or examine witnesses; it could apply torture. It was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641. Encyc. Brit.

both their ears with such delight and ravishment, to be stigmatized and bored through in witness of their own voluntary and beloved baseness. Milton.

A writ commanding the attendance in court, as a witness, of the person on whom it is served, under a penalty; the process by which a defendant in equity is commanded to appear and answer the plaintiff's bill. [Written also subpena.] Subpoena ad testificandum (. Etym: [NL.] A writ used to procure the attendance of a wit…

Testimony; attestation; witness; approval. Lactantius and St. Austin confirm by their suffrage the observation made by heathen writers. Atterbury. Every miracle is the suffrage of Heaven to the truth of a doctrine. South.

w) See Suit and service, above. -- To bring suit. (Law) (a) To bring secta, followers or witnesses, to prove the plaintiff's demand. [Obs.] (b) In modern usage, to institute an action. -- To follow suit. (Card Playing) See under Follow, v. t.

To give notice to, or command to appear, as in court; to cite by authority; as, to summon witnesses.

rning him to appear in court at a day specified, to answer to the plaintiff, testify as a witness, or the like.

to take an oath; to administer an oath to; -- ofetn followed by in or into; as, to swear witnesses; to swear a jury; to swear in an officer; he was sworn into office.

One who swears; one who calls God to witness for the truth of his declaration.

To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything; to move in a stately manner; as, the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room.