n. [ A corruption of Eng. accidents, pl. of accident. See Accident, 2. ] 1. The accidents, of inflections of words; the rudiments of grammar. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The rudiments of any subject. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Aëronautics) The angle between the chord of an aërocurve and the relative direction of the undisturbed air current. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. coïncidence. ] 1. The condition of occupying the same place in space; as, the coincidence of circles, surfaces, etc. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The condition or fact of happening at the same time; as, the coincidence of the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Exact correspondence in nature, character, result, circumstances, etc.; concurrence; agreement. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very concurrence and coincidence of so many evidences . . . carries a great weight. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who discourse . . . of the nature of truth . . . affirm a perfect coincidence between truth and goodness. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. confidence. ] 1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. [ 1913 Webster ]

Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence;
Do not go forth to-day. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

But confidence then bore thee on secure
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler; several swindlers often work together to create the illusion of truth; -- also called con game. --
Confidence man, a swindler. --
To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.

Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am confident that very much be done. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be confident to speak, Northumberland;
We three are but thyself. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. [ 1913 Webster ]

As confident as is the falcon's flight
Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Giving occasion for confidence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. decidens falling off. ] A falling off. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. diffidentia. ] 1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of address. W. Irving.

Syn. -- Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dissidentia: cf. F. dissidence. See Dissident, a. ] Disagreement; dissent; separation from the established religion. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the dissidence of dissent. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. évidence, L. Evidentia. See Evident. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. Heb. xi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

O glorious trial of exceeding love
Illustrious evidence, example high. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who bears witness. [ R. ] “Infamous and perjured evidences.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. Greenleaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Evidenced p. pr. & vb. n. Evidencing ] To render evident or clear; to prove; to evince; as, to evidence a fact, or the guilt of an offender. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who gives evidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. improvidentia; OF. improvidence. Cf. Imprudence. ] The quality of being improvident; lack of foresight or thrift. [ 1913 Webster ]

The improvidence of my neighbor must not make me inhuman. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. incidence. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A falling on or upon; an incident; an event; an occurrence. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physics) The direction in which a body, or a ray of light or heat, falls on any surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

In equal incidences there is a considerable inequality of refractions. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The rate or ratio at which something occurs; as, the incidence of murder in Los Angeles; the incidence of cancer in men over 50. [ PJC ]

Angle of incidence, the angle which a ray of light, or the line of incidence of a body, falling on any surface, makes with a perpendicular to that surface; also formerly, the complement of this angle. --
Line of incidence, the line in the direction of which a surface is struck by a body, ray of light, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being incoincident; lack of coincidence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. inévidence. ] Lack of evidence; obscurity. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Intercident. ] The act or state of coming or falling between; occurrence; incident. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of coincidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being nonresident, Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excessive confidence; too great reliance or trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being prefident. [ Obs. ] Baxter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Presidency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ }, n. [ L. procidentia, fr. procidens, p. pr. of procidere to fall down forward. ] (Med.) A falling down; a prolapsus. [ R. ] Parr. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. providentia: cf. F. providence. See Provident, and cf. Prudence. ] 1. The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Providence for war is the best prevention of it. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Foresight; care; especially, the foresight and care which God manifests for his creatures; hence, God himself, regarded as exercising a constant wise prescience. [ 1913 Webster ]

The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) A manifestation of the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures; an event ordained by divine direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that hath a numerous family, and many to provide for, needs a greater providence of God. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Prudence in the management of one's concerns; economy; frugality. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a high point of providence in a prince to cast an eye rather upon actions than persons. Quarles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. résidence. See Resident. ] 1. The act or fact of residing, abiding, or dwelling in a place for some continuance of time; as, the residence of an American in France or Italy for a year. [ 1913 Webster ]

The confessor had often made considerable residences in Normandy. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The place where one resides; an abode; a dwelling or habitation; esp., a settled or permanent home or domicile. “Near the residence of Posthumus.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Johnson took up his residence in London. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eng. Eccl. Law) The residing of an incumbent on his benefice; -- opposed to nonresidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The place where anything rests permanently. [ 1913 Webster ]

But when a king sets himself to bandy against the highest court and residence of all his regal power, he then, . . . fights against his own majesty and kingship. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Subsidence, as of a sediment. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Domiciliation; sojourn; stay; abode; home; dwelling; habitation; domicile; mansion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being self-confident; self-reliance. [ 1913 Webster ]

A feeling of self-confidence which supported and sustained him. Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being self-evident. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. subsidens, -entis, p. pr. of subsidere. See Subside. ] The act or process of subsiding. [ 1913 Webster ]

The subdual or subsidence of the more violent passions. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Absence of confidence; uncertainty; doubt. [ 1913 Webster ]