different between evidence vs acquittance

English

Etymology

From Middle English evidence, from Old French [Term?], from Latin evidentia (“clearness, in Late Latin a proof”), from evidens (“clear, evident”); see evident.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??v?d?ns/, /??v?d?ns/
• (US) IPA^(key): [??v???ns]
• Hyphenation: ev?i?dence

Noun

evidence (usually uncountable, plural evidences)

1. Facts or observations presented in support of an assertion.
   • 1748, David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

     In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.

2. (law) Anything admitted by a court to prove or disprove alleged matters of fact in a trial.
3. One who bears witness.
   • 1820, Charles Maturin, Melmoth the Wanderer, volume 1, page 53:

     He recapitulated the Sybil’s story word by word, with the air of a man who is cross-examining an evidence, and trying to make him contradict himself.

4. A body of objectively verifiable facts that are positively indicative of, and/or exclusively concordant with, that one conclusion over any other.

Usage notes

• Adjectives often used with the term "evidence": documentary, physical, empirical, scientific, material, circumstantial, anectodal, objective, strong, weak, conclusive, hard

Derived terms

Related terms

• evident
• evidential

Translations

Verb

evidence (third-person singular simple present evidences, present participle evidencing, simple past and past participle evidenced)

1. (transitive) To provide evidence for, or suggest the truth of.

Usage notes

• To be distinguished from evince.

Translations

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:evidence.

Further reading

• evidence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• evidence in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [??v?d?nt?s?]
• Rhymes: -?nts?

Noun

evidence f

1. records
2. registry, repository

Related terms

• See vize
• eviden?ní
• evidovat
• evidentní

See also

• záznamy
• databáze
• registr

Further reading

• evidence in P?íru?ní slovník jazyka ?eského, 1935–1957
• evidence in Slovník spisovného jazyka ?eského, 1960–1971, 1989

Friulian

Noun

evidence f (plural evidencis)

1. evidence

Middle French

Noun

evidence f (plural evidences)

1. evidence

Descendants

• French: évidence

English

Alternative forms

• acquittaunce (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman acquitance, Middle French aquitance, from acquiter (“to acquit”). Compare later acquittal.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??kw?t?ns/

Noun

acquittance (countable and uncountable, plural acquittances)

1. (now historical) A writing which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand. [from 14th c.]
2. (now rare) Payment of debt; settlement. [from 14th c.]
3. (now historical) The release from a debt, or from some obligation or duty; exemption. [from 14th c.]
4. (obsolete) The dismissal of a legal charge against someone; acquittal. [15th–19th c.]
   • 1791, Ann Radcliffe, The Romance of the Forest, Oxford 1999, p. 82:

     This was a task more difficult than that of self acquittance.

5. (now rare) The acquittal of one's duties; the carrying out of fulfilment of a job or role. [from 17th c.]

Verb

acquittance (third-person singular simple present acquittances, present participle acquittancing, simple past and past participle acquittanced)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To acquit.

References

• acquittance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.