bear witness

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Explanation of "Bear Witness"

Definition:
The phrase "bear witness" means to provide evidence or testimony about something, often in a legal context, but it can also be used in everyday situations to express that you have seen or experienced something.

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or speeches, "bear witness" can have a more symbolic meaning, implying that someone represents or stands for a particular truth or experience.

Word Variants:

• Witness (noun): A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, or who can give a first-hand account of it.
• Testify (verb): To give evidence as a witness in a court of law.

Different Meanings:

1. Legal Meaning: To provide formal evidence in a court.
2. General Meaning: To affirm or confirm something based on personal experience.

Synonyms:

• Testify
• Attest
• Confirm
• Validate

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Bear out": To confirm or support something.

  • Example: "The facts bear out his claims."

• "Stand witness": To provide testimony or evidence.

  • Example: "Many people stood witness to the charity event's success."

Conclusion:

"Bear witness" is an important phrase that emphasizes the act of confirming or providing evidence about something you have seen or know to be true.

Academic

Verb

1. give testimony in a court of law
2. provide evidence for
   • The blood test showed that he was the father
   • Her behavior testified to her incompetence

Synonyms

• testify
• attest
• take the stand
• prove
• evidence
• show