01 a. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents.
-
1.
Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents.“The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety.” — Paley.
-
2.
Incidental; relating to, but not essential.“We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial.” — Sharp.
-
3.
Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular.“Tedious and circumstantial recitals.” — Prior.
Phrases & compounds
Circumstantial evidence —
evidence obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. According to some authorities circumstantial is distinguished from positive evidence in that the latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or less circumstantial.
Syn.
See Minute.