witness

témoin

Personne qui a vu un événement se produire, surtout un accident ou un crime.

En anglais simple : Someone who saw an event happen, especially an accident or crime.

• Police are looking for a witness.
• Two witnesses saw the car hit the wall.
• Were you a witness to the argument?

Comment l'utiliser : witness to something (She was a witness to the accident.)

Synonymes : eyewitness, observer

Expressions courantes : a witness, witness to something

témoin

Personne qui raconte à un tribunal ce qu’elle sait d’une affaire.

En anglais simple : Someone who tells a court what they know about a case.

• The witness answered the lawyer’s questions.
• Three witnesses gave evidence during the trial.
• The judge asked the witness to speak clearly.

Comment l'utiliser : witness for someone/something (He appeared as a witness for the prosecution.)

Expressions courantes : witness statement, call a witness, witness for someone, defence witness

être témoin de, assister à

Voir un événement se produire ou le vivre soi-même.

En anglais simple : To see an event happen or experience it yourself.

• I witnessed the accident.
• She has witnessed great changes in her town.
• Did anyone witness the man entering the building?

Comment l'utiliser : witness something happen (They witnessed the bridge collapse.)

Synonymes : see, observe, experience

Expressions courantes : witness an accident, witness a change, witness something happen

connaître, voir

Pour un lieu ou une période, indique qu’un événement ou un changement s’y produit.

En anglais simple : If a place or period experiences an event or change, it happens there or during that time.

• The city witnessed rapid growth.
• The last decade has witnessed major changes in education.
• These streets witnessed fierce fighting during the war.

Synonymes : experience, see

Expressions courantes : witness rapid growth, witness major changes, witness a decline

attester

Voir quelqu’un signer un document officiel et y ajouter sa signature pour confirmer cette action.

En anglais simple : To watch someone sign an official document and add your signature to confirm it.

• Can you witness my signature?
• A neighbour witnessed the signing of her will.
• The deed must be witnessed by an independent adult.

Synonymes : attest

Expressions courantes : witness a signature, witness a will, witness a deed