[ad. L. ēvidentem, 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., *iij. 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. Imison, Sch. Arts, 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 judgment; obvious, plain. Const. to. † (It) is evident to be...: = ‘it is evident that (it) is….’
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 yt none indication is taken of the cause.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 128. Why this is euident 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. 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. Shaftesb., Charac., III. § 2 (1737), II. 417. But upon fair Conviction, to give our heart up to the evident side, and reinforce the Impression, this is to help Reason heartily.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 259. But this Remark of my Friend’s appear’d more evident in a few Weeks more.
† 3. Of a sigo, 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. Shaks., 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 (1659), 66. Where did he assigne 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. sb. 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. Scotl. (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.
