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bear witness

idiom

Definition of bear witness

1 : to show that something exists or is true —+ to
  • His success bears witness to the value of hard work.
  • Rising ticket sales bear witness to the band's popularity.
2 formal : to make a statement saying that one saw or knows something
  • asked to bear witness to the facts
  • She was accused of bearing false witness at the trial.

Word by Word Definitions

bear play

  1. : any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora) of large heavy mammals of America and Eurasia that have long shaggy hair, rudimentary tails, and plantigrade feet and feed largely on fruit, plant matter, and insects as well as on flesh

  2. : a surly, uncouth, burly, or shambling person

  3. : one that sells securities or commodities in expectation of a price decline — compare bull

  1. : to accept or allow oneself to be subjected to especially without giving way

  2. : to call for as suitable or essential

  3. : assume, accept

See the full definition of bear
witness play

  1. : attestation of a fact or event : testimony

  2. : one that gives evidence

  3. : one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place

  1. : to testify to : attest

  2. : to act as legal witness of

  3. : to furnish proof of : betoken

See the full definition of witness

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