from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Evidence \Ev"i*dence\, n. [F. ['e]vidence, L. Evidentia. See
{Evident}.]
1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which
furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof;
the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our
senses; evidence of the truth or falsehood of a statement.
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Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen.
--Heb. xi. 1.
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O glorious trial of exceeding love
Illustrious evidence, example high. --Milton.
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2. One who bears witness. [R.] "Infamous and perjured
evidences." --Sir W. Scott.
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3. (Law) That which is legally submitted to competent
tribunal, as a means of ascertaining the truth of any
alleged matter of fact under investigation before it;
means of making proof; -- the latter, strictly speaking,
not being synonymous with evidence, but rather the effect
of it. --Greenleaf.
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{Circumstantial evidence}, {Conclusive evidence}, etc. See
under {Circumstantial}, {Conclusive}, etc.
{Crown's evidence}, {King's evidence}, or {Queen's evidence},
evidence for the crown, in English courts; equivalent to
{state's evidence} in American courts. [Eng.]
{State's evidence}, evidence for the government or the
people. [U. S. ]
{To turn King's evidence} {To turn Queen's evidence}, or {To
turn State's evidence}, to confess a crime and give evidence
against one's accomplices.
Syn: Testimony; proof. See {Testimony}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
circumstantial \cir`cum*stan"tial\ (s[~e]r`k[u^]m*st[a^]n"shal),
a. [Cf. F. circonstanciel.]
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1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or
particular incidents.
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The usual character of human testimony is
substantial truth under circumstantial variety.
--Paley.
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2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential.
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We must therefore distinguish between the essentials
in religious worship . . . and what is merely
circumstantial. --Sharp.
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3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all
the circumstances; minute; particular.
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Tedious and circumstantial recitals. --Prior.
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{Circumstantial evidence} (Law), evidence obtained from
circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts
of a particular nature, from which arises presumption.
According to some authorities circumstantial is
distinguished from positive evidence in that the latter is
the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission
of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such
testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support.
All testimony is more or less circumstantial. --Wharton.
Syn: See {Minute}.
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