[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

evidence \ev"idence\, n. f. 'evidence, 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
see also:
evident circumstantial evidence conclusive evidence circumstantial conclusive crown's evidence 
king's evidence queen's evidence state's evidence state's evidence to turn king's evidence 
to turn queen's evidence to turn state's evidence testimony 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

circumstantial \cir`cumstan"tial\ s~er`ku^msta^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
see also:
circumstantial evidence minute 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

circumstantial evidence
     n : evidence providing only a basis for inference about the fact
         in dispute syn: indirect evidence ant: direct
         evidence
see also:
indirect evidence direct evidence 

Evidence >> E Words
Evidence, definition of term: Evidence
evidence_pag1.html

Circumstantial >> C Words
Circumstantial, definition of term: Circumstantial
circumstantial_pag1.html

Circumstantial >> C Words
Circumstantial, definition of term: Circumstantial
circumstantial_pag1.html