OE. witnes, more freq. ewitnes, f. (e)wit WIT n., IWIT + -nes -NESS. Cf. OHG. giwinessi, MDu. wetenisse. The passage in [[sense]] from abstract to concrete is paralleled in F. témoin (:L. testimonium). The uninflected pl. was frequent in early use; for separate illustration | OE. witnes, more freq. ewitnes, f. (e)wit WIT n., IWIT + -nes -NESS. Cf. OHG. giwinessi, MDu. wetenisse. The passage in [[sense]] from abstract to concrete is paralleled in F. témoin (:L. testimonium). The uninflected pl. was frequent in early use; for separate illustration |