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.
Ev"i*dence (?), n. [F.
évidence, 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 Testimony.