▪ I. evident, a. and n.
(ˈɛvɪdənt)
[ad. L. ēvident-em, in same sense, f. ē- out + vident-em, pr. pple. of vidēre to see. Cf. Fr. évident.
With the use of this active form in passive sense cf. ‘to look (well or ill)’, Ger. aussehen to appear, lit. ‘to see out.’ Late Lat. had the pass. ēvidēri to be evident.]
A. adj.
1. † a. Of physical objects: Distinctly visible; conspicuous (obs.). b. (With mixed notion of 2) of tokens, vestiges, etc., or of states or conditions: Obvious to the sight; recognizable at a glance.
| 1382 Wyclif Wisd. xiv. 17 The euydent [1388 opyn, 1611 expresse; Vulg. evidentem] ymage of the king, whom worshipen thei wolden, thei maden. c 1400 Festivall in Hearne R. Brunne's Chron. Pref. 198 Þat ylke white cerne [printed cerue] was an euydent tokon of her martirdome. c 1430 Lydg. Thebes iii. (1500) K iiij, The Grekes Dysespeyred Dempte playnly by tokens euydent. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour A v, He doth for them euydent myracles. 1570 Dee Math. Pref. 7 Make good euident markes, at euery inches end. 1598 Drayton Heroic. Ep. i. 68 Then doe I strive to wash it out with Teares, But then the same more evident appears. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 1077 Bad Fruit of Knowledge..Which leaves..in our Faces evident the signes Of foul concupiscence. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. ii. 79 At Shooting at a Ship in a River, he must put his Piece to some evident mark on the other side the River. c 1790 J. Imison Sch. Art II. 65 Thin persons have the muscles of the neck much more evident than would be judicious to imitate [in painting]. 1806 Med. Jrnl. XV. 443 Of which [small-pox] she bore evident marks. 1820 Keats Hyperion i. 338 Thou canst move about, an evident God. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. xvii. 320 The retardation of the ice is most evident near the sides. |
2. Clear to the understanding or the judgement; obvious, plain. Const. to. † (it) is evident to be{ddd}: = ‘it is evident that (it) is{ddd}’
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 221 Which in the bible is evident, How David in his testament, etc. 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 B iv b, It is euydent y{supt} none indication is taken of the cause. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. v. 128 Why this is evident to any formall capacitie. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. (1739) 202 It is evident to be nothing but a Temporal Monarchy. 1659 Pearson Creed 4 Truths apparent in themselves..are not called Credible, but evident to the understanding. 1754 Edwards Freed. Will ii. xii. 119 For a Thing to be certainly known to any Understanding, is for it to be evident to that Understanding. 1842 J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 360 The vast importance of sheep, with their constant increase, is most evident. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 209 That this distinction is as sound on the evolutional theory of society as on any other is quite evident. |
† b. Occasional uses: Having preponderating evidence. Of a remark: Obviously true. Obs.
| 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. iii. §2 (1737) II. 417 Upon fair Conviction, to give our heart up to the evident side..is to help Reason heartily. 1722 De Foe Plague (1840) 192 But this remark of my friend's appeared more evident in a few weeks more. |
† 3. Of a sign, testimony, etc.: Indubitable, certain, conclusive. Obs.
| 1529 More Heresyes i. Wks. 161/1 No scripture can be euident to proue any thing that he lyst to deny. 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xx. 20 He yeeldeth an evidenter witnesse of his trust. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. ii. iv. 120 Render to me some corporall signe about her More euident then this: for this was stolne. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows i. §39. 61 We see how..evident the holy Scripture is in this principle of our Christian Faith. 1653 Milton Hirelings Wks. (1847) 430/1 Where did he assign it [the tenth], or by what evident conveyance to ministers? |
† 4. quasi-adv. = evidently. Obs.
| 1519 Interl. Four Elements in Hazl. Dodsley I. 38 One way it [the earth] is round, I must consent, For this man proved it evident. |
B. n. Something that serves as evidence; spec. in Sc. Law, a document proving a person's title to anything; usually in pl. title-deeds.
| 1424 Sc. Acts Jas. I (1597) §9 The King..may gar summond, all..his tennentes..to schaw their charters and evidentes. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 247 His lordis all befoir him he [Robert the Bruce] gart caw, Thair euidentis of thair landis till schaw. 1678 in Burt Lett. N. Scot. (1818) I. 64 [Inscription in a house] 16 Christ is my life and rent 78 His promise is my evident. 1816 Scott Antiq. iv, It is written all these various ways in the old writings and evidents. 1868 Act 31–32 Vict. c. 101 §8 Absolute warrandice as regards the lands and writs and evidents. |
▪ II. † ˈevident, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. prec.]
= evidence v.
| 1643 Prynne Sov. Power Parl. ii. 74 As all the old and new Acts..with other such aides in all our Kings Reignes, abundantly evident. |