evidence
pronunciation
How to pronounce evidence in British English:
UK [ˈevɪdəns]
How to pronounce evidence in American English:
US [ˈevɪdəns]
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- Noun:
- your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
- an indication that makes something evident
- (law) all the means by which any alleged matter of fact whose truth is investigated at judicial trial is established or disproved
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- Verb:
- provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
- provide evidence for
- give evidence
Word Origin
- evidence (n.)
- c. 1300, "appearance from which inferences may be drawn," from Old French evidence, from Late Latin evidentia "proof," in classical Latin "distinction, vivid presentation, clearness" in rhetoric, from stem of Latin evidens "obvious, apparent" (see evident). Meaning "ground for belief" is from late 14c.; that of "obviousness" is from 1660s and tacks closely to the sense of evident. Legal senses are from c. 1500, when it began to oust witness. Also "one who furnishes testimony, witness" (1590s); hence turn (State's) evidence.
- evidence (v.)
- "show clearly, prove, give evidence of," c. 1600, from evidence (n.). Related: Evidenced; evidencing.
Example
- 1. Evidence of the exodus is already emerging .
- 2. The evidence is not encouraging .
- 3. But there is little evidence that they do .
- 4. The industrial slowdown is welcome evidence that these measures are working .
- 5. His own life is evidence .