circumstantial evidence
 旁證,間接證據


 cir·cum·stan·tial a.
 1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents.
    The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety.   --Paley.
 2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential.
    We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial.   --Sharp.
 3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular.
    Tedious and circumstantial recitals.   --Prior.
 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.

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 Ev·i·dence 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.   --Heb. xi. 1.
 O glorious trial of exceeding love
 Illustrious evidence, example high.   --Milton.
 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.
 Syn: -- Testimony; proof. See Testimony.


 circumstantial evidence
      n : evidence providing only a basis for inference about the fact
          in dispute [syn: indirect evidence] [ant: {direct
          evidence]