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Circumstantial evidence   /sˌərkəmstˈæntʃəl ˈɛvədəns/   Listen
noun
Evidence  n.  
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." "O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example high."
2.
One who bears witness. (R.) "Infamous and perjured evidences."
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.
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.
Synonyms: Testimony; proof. See Testimony.


adjective
circumstantial  adj.  
1.
Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents. "The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety."
2.
Incidental; relating to, but not essential. "We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship... and what is merely circumstantial."
3.
Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular. "Tedious and circumstantial recitals."
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..
Synonyms: See Minute.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Circumstantial evidence" Quotes from Famous Books



... here to tell the reason why I would not convict the meanest thief on circumstantial evidence. I would rather let a thousand go free than risk with one what I risked and shudder yet to think of. There had been some public excitement that summer about mad dogs, especially spitz-dogs. A good many persons had been bitten, and the authorities of Massachusetts, if I remember ...
— The Making of an American • Jacob A. Riis
... then carried off by two men; blood on the floor, the sill and the back fence; and the Judge had disappeared from the face of the earth. The case was clear, the jury retired, but quickly brought in a verdict of guilty, although at every point there was nothing but circumstantial evidence. ...
— The Preacher of Cedar Mountain - A Tale of the Open Country • Ernest Thompson Seton
... fleck the size of a tear which their duller eyes had overlooked. It was plain to me that La Cote Male Taile had failed to see the mistress of the house. Often, how louder and clearer than any tongue, does dumb circumstantial evidence speak. ...
— Innocents abroad • Mark Twain
... all up before the general the next day, but swore ourselves clear, all except Tim, who had the circumstantial evidence ...
— Fort Lafayette or, Love and Secession • Benjamin Wood
... that if he should succeed in destroying his adversary,—so long as the act was not witnessed by their associates,—so long as there should be only circumstantial evidence against him,—he would not have much to fear from such judges as they. It was simply a question as to whether the deed could be done silently and in the darkness; and that question was ...
— The Ocean Waifs - A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea • Mayne Reid


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