Chapter XIX: Section III

MATERIALS FOR REASONING Evidence for, against, and in mitigation

467. Evidence [On one side.] — N. evidence; facts, premises, data, praecognita [Lat.], grounds. indication &c 550; criterion &c (test) 463. testimony, testification†, expert testimony; attestation; deposition &c (affirmation) 535; examination. admission &c (assent) 488; authority, warrant, credential, diploma, voucher, certificate, doquet†, docket; testamur†; record &c 551; document; pi ce justificative†; deed, warranty &c (security) 771; signature, seal &c (identification) 550; exhibit, material evidence, objective evidence. witness, indicator, hostile witness; eyewitness, earwitness, material witness, state's evidence; deponent; sponsor; cojuror†. oral evidence, documentary evidence, hearsay evidence, external evidence, extrinsic evidence, internal evidence, intrinsic evidence, circumstantial evidence, cumulative evidence, ex parte evidence [Lat.], presumptive evidence, collateral evidence, constructive evidence; proof &c (demonstration) 478; evidence in chief. secondary evidence; confirmation, corroboration, support; ratification &c (assent) 488; authentication; compurgation†, wager of law, comprobation†. citation, reference; legal research, literature search (experiment) 463. V. be evidence &c n.; evince, show, betoken, tell of; indicate &c (denote) 550; imply, involve, argue, bespeak, breathe. have weight, carry weight; tell, speak volumes; speak for itself &c (manifest) 525. rest upon, depend upon; repose on. bear witness &c n.; give evidence &c n.; testify, depose, witness, vouch for; sign, seal, undersign†, set one's hand and seal, sign and seal, deliver as one's act and deed, certify, attest; acknowledge &c (assent) 488. [provide conclusive evidence] make absolute, confirm, prove (demonstrate) 478. [add further evidence] indorse, countersign, corroborate, support, ratify, bear out, uphold, warrant. adduce, attest, cite, quote; refer to, appeal to; call, call to witness; bring forward, bring into court; allege, plead; produce witnesses, confront witnesses. place into evidence, mark into evidence. [obtain evidence] collect evidence, bring together evidence, rake up evidence; experiment &c 463. have a case, make out a case; establish, authenticate, substantiate, verify, make good, quote chapter and verse; bring home to, bring to book. Adj. showing &c v.; indicative, indicatory; deducible &c 478; grounded on, founded on, based on; corroborative, confirmatory. Adv. by inference; according to, witness, a fortiori; still more, still less; raison de plus [Fr.]; in corroboration &c n.. of; valeat quantum [Lat.]; under seal, under one's hand and seal. Phr. dictum de dicto [Lat.]; mise en evidence [Fr.].

468. [Evidence on the other side, on the other hand.] Counter Evidence — N. counter evidence; evidence on the other side, evidence on the other hand; conflicting evidence, contradictory evidence, opposing evidence; disproof, refutation &c 479; negation &c 536. plea &c 617; vindication &c 937; counter protest; 'tu quoque' argument; other side of the shield, other side of the coin, reverse of the shield. V. countervail, oppose; mitigate against; rebut &c (refute) 479; subvert &c (destroy) 162; cheek, weaken; contravene; contradict &c (deny) 536; tell the other side of the story, tell another story, turn the scale, alter the case; turn the tables; cut both ways; prove a negative. audire alteram partem [Lat.]. Adj. countervailing &c v.; contradictory. unattested, unauthenticated, unsupported by evidence; supposititious. Adv. on the contrary, per contra.

469. Qualification — N. qualification, limitation, modification, coloring. allowance, grains of allowance, consideration, extenuating circumstances; mitigation. condition, proviso, prerequisite, contingency, stipulation, provision, specification, sine qua non [Lat.]; catch, string, strings attached; exemption; exception, escape clause, salvo, saving clause; discount &c 813; restriction; fine print. V. qualify, limit, modify, leaven, give a color to, introduce new conditions, narrow, temper. waffle, quibble, hem and haw (be uncertain) 475; equivocate (sophistry) 477. depend, depend on, be contingent on (effect) 154. allow for, make allowance for; admit exceptions, take into account; modulate. moderate, temper, season, leaven. take exception. Adj. qualifying &c v.; qualified, conditioned, restricted, hedged; conditional; exceptional &c (unconformable) 83. hypothetical &c (supposed) 514; contingent &c (uncertain) 475. Adv. provided, provided that, provided always; if, unless, but, yet; according as; conditionally, admitting, supposing; on the supposition of &c (theoretically) 514; with the understanding, even, although, though, for all that, after all, at all events. approximately &c 197, 17; in a limited degree (smallness) 32; somewhat, sort of, something like that, to a certain extent, to a degree, in a sense, so to speak. with grains of allowance, cum grano salis [Lat.], with a grain of salt; exceptis excipiendis [Lat.]; wind and weather permitting; if possible &c 470. subject to, conditioned upon; with this proviso &c n.. Phr. if the good lord is willing and the creeks don't rise; catch- 22. Degrees of Evidence

470. Possibility — N. possibility, potentiality; what may be, what is possible &c adj.; compatibility &c (agreement) 23. practicability, feasibility; practicableness &c adj.. contingency, chance &c 156. V. be possible &c adj.; stand a chance; admit of, bear. render possible &c adj.; put in the way of. Adj. possible; in the cards, on the dice; in posse, within the bounds of possibility, conceivable, credible; compatible &c 23; likely. practicable, feasible, performable, achievable; within reach, within measurable distance; accessible, superable†, surmountable; attainable, obtainable; contingent &c (doubtful) 475, (effect) 154. barely possible, marginally possible, just possible; possible but improbably, (improbable) 473; theoretically possible. Adv. possibly, by possibility; perhaps, perchance, peradventure; maybe, may be, haply, mayhap. if possible, wind and weather permitting, God willing, Deo volente [Lat.], D.V.; as luck may have it. Phr. misericordia Domini inter pontem et fontent [Lat.]; the glories of the Possible are ours [B. Taylor]; anything is possible; in theory possible, but in practise unlikely.

471. Impossibility — N. impossibility &c adj.; what cannot, what can never be; sour grapes; hopelessness &c 859. V. be impossible &c adj.; have no chance whatever. attempt impossibilities; square the circle, wash a blackamoor white; skin a flint; make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, make bricks without straw; have nothing to go upon; weave a rope of sand, build castles in the air, prendre la lune avec les dents [Fr.], extract sunbeams from cucumbers, set the Thames on fire, milk a he-goat into a sieve, catch a weasel asleep, rompre l'anguille au genou [Fr.], be in two places at once. Adj. impossible; not possible &c 470; absurd, contrary to reason; unlikely; unreasonable &c 477; incredible &c 485; beyond the bounds of reason, beyond the bounds of possibility, beyond the realm of possibility; from which reason recoils; visionary; inconceivable &c (improbable) 473; prodigious &c (wonderful) 870; unimaginable, inimaginable†; unthinkable. impracticable unachievable; unfeasible, infeasible; insuperable; unsurmountable†, insurmountable; unattainable, unobtainable; out of reach, out of the question; not to be had, not to be thought of; beyond control; desperate &c (hopeless) 859; incompatible &c 24; inaccessible, uncomeatable†, impassable, impervious, innavigable†, inextricable; self- contradictory. out of one's power, beyond one's power, beyond one's depth, beyond one's reach, beyond one's grasp; too much for; ultra crepidam [Lat.]. Phr. the grapes are sour; non possumus [Lat.]; non nostrum tantas componere lites [Lat.] [Vergil]; look for a needle in a haystack, chercher une aiguille dans une botte de foin [Fr.]; il a le mer à boire†.

472. Probability — N. probability, likelihood; credibleness†; likeliness &c adj.; vraisemblance [Fr.], verisimilitude, plausibility; color, semblance, show of; presumption; presumptive evidence, circumstantial evidence; credibility. reasonable chance, fair chance, good chance, favorable chance, reasonable prospect, fair prospect, good prospect, favorable prospect; prospect, wellgrounded hope; chance &c 156. V. be probable &c adj.; give color to, lend color to; point to; imply &c (evidence) 467; bid fair &c (promise) 511; stand fair for; stand a good chance, run a good chance. think likely, dare say, flatter oneself; expect &c 507; count upon &c (believe) 484. Adj. probable, likely, hopeful, to be expected, in a fair way. plausible, specious, ostensible, colorable, ben trovato [It], well-founded, reasonable, credible, easy of belief, presumable, presumptive, apparent. Adv. probably &c adj.; belike†; in all probability, in all likelihood; very likely, most likely; like enough; odds on, odds in favor, ten to one &c; apparently, seemingly, according to every reasonable expectation; primâ facie [Lat.]; to all appearance &c (to the eye) 448. Phr. the chances, the odds are; appearances are in favor of, chances are in favor of; there is reason to believe, there is reason to think, there is reason to expect; I dare say; all Lombard Street to a China orange.

473. Improbability — N. improbability, unlikelihood; unfavorable chance, bad chance, ghost of a chance, little chance, small chance, poor chance, scarcely any chance, no chance; bare possibility; long odds; incredibility &c 485. V. be improbable &c adj.; have a small chance &c n.. Adj. improbable, unlikely, contrary to all reasonable expectation; wild [Coll.], far out [Coll.], out of sight [Coll.], outtasight [Coll.], heavy [Coll.]. rare &c (infrequent) 137; unheard of, inconceivable; unimaginable, inimaginable†; incredible &c 485; more than doubtful; strange, bizarre (uncomformable) 83. Phr. the chances are against; aquila non capit muscas [Lat.]; pedir peras pal olmo [Lat.].

474. Certainty — N. certainty; necessity &c 601; certitude, surety, assurance; dead certainty, moral certainty; infallibleness &c adj.; infallibility, reliability; indubitableness, inevitableness, unquestionableness†. gospel, scripture, church, pope, court of final appeal; res judicata [Lat.], ultimatum positiveness; dogmatism, dogmatist, dogmatizer; doctrinaire, bigot, opinionist†, Sir Oracle; ipse dixit [Lat.]. fact; positive fact, matter of fact; fait accompli [Fr.]. V. be certain &c adj.; stand to reason. render certain &c adj.; insure, ensure, assure; clinch, make sure; determine, decide, set at rest, make assurance double sure [Macbeth]; know &c (believe) 484. dogmatize, lay down the law. Adj. certain, sure, assured &c v.; solid, well-founded. unqualified, absolute, positive, determinate, definite, clear, unequivocal, categorical, unmistakable, decisive, decided, ascertained. inevitable, unavoidable, avoidless†; ineluctable. unerring, infallible; unchangeable &c 150; to be depended on, trustworthy, reliable, bound. unimpeachable, undeniable, unquestionable; indisputable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indubitable; irrefutable &c (proven) 478; conclusive, without power of appeal. indubious†; without doubt, beyond a doubt, without a shade or shadow of doubt, without question, beyond question; past dispute; clear as day; beyond all question, beyond all dispute; undoubted, uncontested, unquestioned, undisputed; questionless†, doubtless. authoritative, authentic, official. sure as fate, sure as death and taxes, sure as a gun. evident, self-evident, axiomatic; clear, clear as day, clear as the sun at noonday. Adv. certainly &c adj.; for certain, certes [Lat.], sure, no doubt, doubtless, and no mistake, flagrante delicto [Lat.], sure enough, to be sure, of course, as a matter of course, a coup sur, to a certainty; in truth &c (truly) 494; at any rate, at all events; without fail; coute que coute [Fr.], coute qu'il coute [Fr.]; whatever may happen, if the worst come to the worst; come what may, happen what may, come what will; sink or swim; rain or shine. Phr. cela va sans dire [Fr.]; there is no question, no question, not a shadow of doubt, there is not a shadow of doubt; the die is cast &c (necessity) 601; facts are stubborn things [Smollett].

475. Uncertainty — N. uncertainty, incertitude, doubt; doubtfulness &c adj.; dubiety, dubitation†, dubitancy†, dubitousness†. hesitation, suspense; perplexity, embarrassment, dilemma, bewilderment; timidity &c (fear) 860; vacillation &c 605; diaporesis†, indetermination. vagueness &c adj.; haze, fog; obscurity &c (darkness) 421; ambiguity &c (double meaning) 520; contingency, dependence, dependency, double contingency, possibility upon a possibility; open question &c (question) 461; onus probandi [Lat.]; blind bargain, pig in a poke, leap in the dark, something or other; needle in a haystack, needle in a bottle of hay; roving commission. precariousness &c adj.; fallibility. V. be uncertain &c adj.; wonder whether. lose the clue, lose the clew, scent; miss one's way. not know what to make of &c (unintelligibility) 519, not know which way to turn, not know whether one stands on one s head or one's heels; float in a sea of doubt, hesitate, flounder; lose oneself, lose one's head; muddle one's brains. render uncertain &c adj.; put out, pose, puzzle, perplex, embarrass; confuse, confound; bewilder, bother, molder, addle the wits, throw off the scent, ambiguas in vulgus spargere voces [Lat.]; keep in suspense. doubt &c (disbelieve) 485; hang in the balance, tremble in the balance; depend. Adj. uncertain; casual; random &c (aimless) 621; changeable &c 149. doubtful, dubious; indecisive; unsettled, undecided, undetermined; in suspense, open to discussion; controvertible; in question &c (inquiry) 461. vague; indeterminate, indefinite; ambiguous, equivocal; undefined, undefinable; confused &c (indistinct) 447; mystic, oracular; dazed. perplexing &c v.; enigmatic, paradoxical, apocryphal, problematical, hypothetical; experimental &c 463. unpredictable, unforeseeable (unknowable) 519. fallible, questionable, precarious, slippery, ticklish, debatable, disputable; unreliable, untrustworthy. contingent, contingent on, dependent on; subject to; dependent on circumstances; occasional; provisional. unauthentic, unauthenticated, unauthoritative; unascertained, unconfirmed; undemonstrated; untold, uncounted. in a state of uncertainty, in a cloud, in a maze; bushed, off the track; ignorant, &c 491; afraid to say; out of one's reckoning, astray, adrift; at sea, at fault, at a loss, at one's wit's end, at a nonplus; puzzled &c v.; lost, abroad, désorienté; distracted, distraught. Adv. pendente lite [Lat.]; sub spe rati [Lat.]. Phr. Heaven knows; who can tell? who shall decide when doctors disagree? ambiguas in vulgum spargere voces [Lat.].