I. ˈevədən(t)s also -d ə n- or -ˌden- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin evidentia, from Latin evident-, evidens evident + -ia -y — more at evident
1.
a. : an outward sign : indication , token
evidences of prosperity
let's have an evidence of good faith
b. : something that furnishes or tends to furnish proof : means of making proof : medium of proof : proof , testimony
on every evidence we now have — New York Times
on the evidence of many people who have seen such paintings, … their imagery has a very haunting quality — Herbert Read
specifically : something legally submitted to a competent tribunal as a means of ascertaining the truth of any alleged matter of fact under investigation before it — see circumstantial evidence
2. : one who bears witness ; especially : one who voluntarily confesses a crime and testifies for the prosecution against his accomplices usually in the expectation of lenient treatment — see king's evidence , state's evidence
3. archaic : the state of being evident : clearness
•
- in evidence
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to offer or constitute evidence of : prove , display , evince
initiative is evidenced by willingness to accept responsibility — A.W.McCain
certificates evidencing stock ownership — U.S. Code
the friendliness she had formerly evidenced to the U.S. — V.G.Heiser
intransitive verb
archaic : to give evidence
Synonyms: see show