1.
[syn: circumstantial evidence, indirect evidence]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen.
--Heb. xi. 1.
[1913 Webster]
O glorious trial of exceeding love
Illustrious evidence, example high. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. One who bears witness. [R.] "Infamous and perjured
evidences." --Sir W. Scott.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or
particular incidents.
[1913 Webster]
The usual character of human testimony is
substantial truth under circumstantial variety.
--Paley.
[1913 Webster]
2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential.
[1913 Webster]
We must therefore distinguish between the essentials
in religious worship . . . and what is merely
circumstantial. --Sharp.
[1913 Webster]
3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all
the circumstances; minute; particular.
[1913 Webster]
Tedious and circumstantial recitals. --Prior.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
circumstantial evidence
n 1: evidence providing only a basis for inference about the
fact in dispute [syn: circumstantial evidence, indirect
evidence] [ant: direct evidence]