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Evidence definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EV'IDENCE, n. [L. evidentia, from video, to see.]
1. That which elucidates and enables the mind to see truth; proof arising from our own perceptions by the senses, or from the testimony of others, or from inductions of reason. Our senses furnish evidence of the existence of matter, of solidity, of color, of heat and cold, of a difference in the qualities of bodies, of figure , etc. The declarations of a witness furnish evidence of facts to a court and jury; and reasoning, or the deductions of the mind from facts or arguments, furnish evidence of truth or falsehood.
2. Any instrument or writing which contains proof.
I delivered the evidence of the purchase to Baruch. Jeremiah 32.
I subscribed the evidence and sealed it. Jeremiah 32.
3. A witness; one who testifies to a fact. This sense is improper and inelegant, though common, and found even in Johnson's writings.
EV'IDENCE, v.t. To elucidate; to prove; to make clear to the mind; to show in such a manner that the mind can apprehend the truth, or in a manner to convince it. The testimony of two witnesses is usually sufficient to evidence the guilt of an offender. The works of creation clearly evidence the existence of an infinite first cause.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief; "the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling" [syn: evidence, grounds]
2: an indication that makes something evident; "his trembling was evidence of his fear"
3: (law) all the means by which any alleged matter of fact whose truth is investigated at judicial trial is established or disproved v
1: provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes; "His high fever attested to his illness"; "The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication"; "This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness" [syn: attest, certify, manifest, demonstrate, evidence]
2: provide evidence for; "The blood test showed that he was the father"; "Her behavior testified to her incompetence" [syn: testify, bear witness, prove, evidence, show]
3: give evidence; "he was telling on all his former colleague" [syn: tell, evidence]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. an outward sign ; indication b. something that furnishes proof ; testimony; specifically something legally submitted to a tribunal to ascertain the truth of a matter 2. one who bears witness; especially one who voluntarily confesses a crime and testifies for the prosecution against his accomplices II. transitive verb (-denced; -dencing) Date: circa 1610 to offer evidence of ; prove, evince Synonyms: see show

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 (often foll. by for, of) the available facts, circumstances, etc. supporting or otherwise a belief, proposition, etc., or indicating whether or not a thing is true or valid. 2 Law a information given personally or drawn from a document etc. and tending to prove a fact or proposition. b statements or proofs admissible as testimony in a lawcourt. 3 clearness, obviousness. --v.tr. be evidence of; attest. Phrases and idioms: call in evidence Law summon (a person) as a witness. in evidence noticeable, conspicuous. Queen's (or King's or State's) evidence Law evidence for the prosecution given by a participant in or accomplice to the crime at issue. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L evidentia (as EVIDENT)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

King King, n.[AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k["o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See Kin.] 1. A chief ruler; a sovereign; one invested with supreme authority over a nation, country, or tribe, usually by hereditary succession; a monarch; a prince. ``Ay, every inch a king.'' --Shak. Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle. --Burke. There was a State without king or nobles. --R. Choate. But yonder comes the powerful King of Day, Rejoicing in the east --Thomson. 2. One who, or that which, holds a supreme position or rank; a chief among competitors; as, a railroad king; a money king; the king of the lobby; the king of beasts. 3. A playing card having the picture of a king; as, the king of diamonds. 4. The chief piece in the game of chess. 5. A crowned man in the game of draughts. 6. pl. The title of two historical books in the Old Testament. Note: King is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote pre["e]minence or superiority in some particular; as, kingbird; king crow; king vulture. Apostolic king.See Apostolic. King-at-arms, or King-of-arms, the chief heraldic officer of a country. In England the king-at-arms was formerly of great authority. His business is to direct the heralds, preside at their chapters, and have the jurisdiction of armory. There are three principal kings-at-arms, viz., Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy. The latter (literally north roy or north king) officiates north of the Trent. King auk (Zo["o]l.), the little auk or sea dove. King bird of paradise. (Zo["o]l.), See Bird of paradise. King card, in whist, the best unplayed card of each suit; thus, if the ace and king of a suit have been played, the queen is the king card of the suit. King Cole, a legendary king of Britain, who is said to have reigned in the third century. King conch (Zo["o]l.), a large and handsome univalve shell (Cassis cameo), found in the West Indies. It is used for making cameos. See Helmet shell, under Helmet. King Cotton, a popular personification of the great staple production of the southern United States. King crab. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The limulus or horseshoe crab. See Limulus. (b) The large European spider crab or thornback (Maia squinado). King crow. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A black drongo shrike (Buchanga atra) of India; -- so called because, while breeding, they attack and drive away hawks, crows, and other large birds. (b) The Dicrurus macrocercus of India, a crested bird with a long, forked tail. Its color is black, with green and blue reflections. Called also devil bird. King duck (Zo["o]l.), a large and handsome eider duck (Somateria spectabilis), inhabiting the arctic regions of both continents. King eagle (Zo["o]l.), an eagle (Aquila heliaca) found in Asia and Southeastern Europe. It is about as large as the golden eagle. Some writers believe it to be the imperial eagle of Rome. King hake (Zo["o]l.), an American hake (Phycis regius), fond in deep water along the Atlantic coast. King monkey (Zo["o]l.), an African monkey (Colobus polycomus), inhabiting Sierra Leone. King mullet (Zo["o]l.), a West Indian red mullet (Upeneus maculatus); -- so called on account of its great beauty. Called also goldfish. King of terrors, death. King parrakeet (Zo["o]l.), a handsome Australian parrakeet (Platycercys scapulatus), often kept in a cage. Its prevailing color is bright red, with the back and wings bright green, the rump blue, and tail black. King penguin (Zo["o]l.), any large species of penguin of the genus Aptenodytes; esp., A. longirostris, of the Falkland Islands and Kerguelen Land, and A. Patagonica, of Patagonia. King rail (Zo["o]l.), a small American rail (Rallus elegans), living in fresh-water marshes. The upper parts are fulvous brown, striped with black; the breast is deep cinnamon color. King salmon (Zo["o]l.), the quinnat. See Quinnat. King's, or Queen's, counsel (Eng. Law), barristers learned in the law, who have been called within the bar, and selected to be the king's or queen's counsel. They answer in some measure to the advocates of the revenue (advocati fisci) among the Romans. They can not be employed against the crown without special license. --Wharton's Law Dict. King's cushion, a temporary seat made by two persons crossing their hands. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell. The king's English, correct or current language of good speakers; pure English. --Shak. King's or Queen's, evidence, testimony in favor of the Crown by a witness who confesses his guilt as an accomplice. See under Evidence. [Eng.] King's evil, scrofula; -- so called because formerly supposed to be healed by the touch of a king. King snake (Zo["o]l.), a large, nearly black, harmless snake (Ophiobolus getulus) of the Southern United States; -- so called because it kills and eats other kinds of snakes, including even the rattlesnake. King's spear (Bot.), the white asphodel (Asphodelus albus). King's yellow, a yellow pigment, consisting essentially of sulphide and oxide of arsenic; -- called also yellow orpiment. King tody (Zo["o]l.), a small fly-catching bird (Eurylaimus serilophus) of tropical America. The head is adorned with a large, spreading, fan-shaped crest, which is bright red, edged with black. King vulture (Zo["o]l.), a large species of vulture (Sarcorhamphus papa), ranging from Mexico to Paraguay, The general color is white. The wings and tail are black, and the naked carunculated head and the neck are briliantly colored with scarlet, yellow, orange, and blue. So called because it drives away other vultures while feeding. King wood, a wood from Brazil, called also violet wood, beautifully streaked in violet tints, used in turning and small cabinetwork. The tree is probably a species of Dalbergia. See Jacaranda.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Evidence Ev"i*dence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evidenced; p, pr. & vb. n. Evidencing.] To render evident or clear; to prove; to evince; as, to evidence a fact, or the guilt of an offender. --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. --Heb. xi. 1. O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example high. --Milton. 2. One who bears witness. [R.] ``Infamous and perjured evidences.'' --Sir W. Scott. 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. Circumstantial evidence, Conclusive evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc. Crown's, King's, or Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown. [Eng.] State's evidence, evidence for the government or the people. [U. S. ] To turn King's, Queen's or State's evidence, to confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices. Syn: Testimony; proof. See Tesimony.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. --Heb. xi. 1. O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example high. --Milton. 2. One who bears witness. [R.] ``Infamous and perjured evidences.'' --Sir W. Scott. 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. Circumstantial evidence, Conclusive evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc. Crown's, King's, or Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown. [Eng.] State's evidence, evidence for the government or the people. [U. S. ] To turn King's, Queen's or State's evidence, to confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices. Syn: Testimony; proof. See Tesimony.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. --Heb. xi. 1. O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example high. --Milton. 2. One who bears witness. [R.] ``Infamous and perjured evidences.'' --Sir W. Scott. 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. Circumstantial evidence, Conclusive evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc. Crown's, King's, or Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown. [Eng.] State's evidence, evidence for the government or the people. [U. S. ] To turn King's, Queen's or State's evidence, to confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices. Syn: Testimony; proof. See Tesimony.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(evidences, evidencing, evidenced) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. Evidence is anything that you see, experience, read, or are told that causes you to believe that something is true or has really happened. Ganley said he'd seen no evidence of widespread fraud... There is a lot of evidence that stress is partly responsible for disease... N-UNCOUNT: oft N of/for n, N that, N to-inf 2. Evidence is the information which is used in a court of law to try to prove something. Evidence is obtained from documents, objects, or witnesses. (LEGAL) The evidence against him was purely circumstantial. ...enough evidence for a successful prosecution. N-UNCOUNT: oft N against n 3. If you give evidence in a court of law or an official enquiry, you officially say what you know about people or events, or describe an occasion at which you were present. The forensic scientists who carried out the original tests will be called to give evidence... = testify PHRASE: V inflects 4. If a particular feeling, ability, or attitude is evidenced by something or someone, it is seen or felt. (FORMAL) He's wise in other ways too, as evidenced by his reason for switching from tennis to golf... She was not calculating and evidenced no specific interest in money. VERB: be V-ed by n, V n 5. If someone or something is in evidence, they are present and can be clearly seen. Few soldiers were in evidence... PHRASE: V inflects

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Testimony, proof, ground of belief. II. v. a. Prove, show, manifest, evince, make manifest, make clear.

Moby Thesaurus

Christophany, Satanophany, account, acquaintance, affect, affidavit, affirmation, angelophany, announcement, apparentness, appearance, approve, argue, argument, assertion, atmospheric visibility, attest, attestation, avatar, averment, basis, bear witness, bespeak, betoken, blue book, brandish, breathe, briefing, bring forth, bring forward, bring into view, bring out, bring to notice, bulletin, catchword, ceiling, ceiling unlimited, certification, clarity, clearness, clue, communication, communique, confirm, confirmation, connote, conspicuity, conspicuousness, corroboration, crystal-clearness, cue, cue word, dangle, data, datum, definiteness, definition, demonstrate, demonstration, denote, deposition, develop, directory, disclose, disclosure, dispatch, display, dissemination, distinctness, divulge, documentation, dramatize, embodiment, embody, enact, enlightenment, epiphany, evidentness, evince, evincement, exhibit, expose, expose to view, express, expression, facts, factual information, familiarization, flaunt, flourish, furnish evidence, gen, general information, give indication of, give sign, give token, go to show, grounds, guidebook, handout, hard information, high visibility, highlight, hint, hot lead, illuminate, illustrate, imply, incarnate, incarnation, incidental information, index, indicate, indication, info, information, instruction, intelligence, intimation, involve, key, key word, knowledge, lead, light, low visibility, make clear, make plain, manifest, manifestation, manifestness, mark, materialization, materialize, mean, mention, message, notice, notification, obviousness, openness, openness to sight, overtness, palpability, parade, patentness, percipi, perform, perspicuity, plainness, pneumatophany, point to, present, presentation, proclaim, produce, prominence, promotional material, proof, prove, publication, publicity, release, report, represent, reveal, revelation, roll out, scent, seeing, set forth, show, show forth, show signs of, sidelight, sign, signalize, significant, signify, speak for itself, speak volumes, spoor, spotlight, statement, substantiation, suggest, suggestion, summation, summing up, support, symptom, symptomatize, tangibility, tell, telltale, tend to show, testament, testify, testimonial, testimony, the dope, the goods, the know, the scoop, theophany, tip-off, token, trace, transmission, trot out, unfold, unmistakableness, unquestionability, validation, verification, vestige, visibility, visibility unlimited, visibility zero, wave, whiff, white book, white paper, witness, word