To turn Queen's evidence

To turn Queen's evidence
Evidence Ev"i*dence, n. [F. ['e]vidence, 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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • turn Queen's evidence — see under ↑evident • • • Main Entry: ↑queen * * * turn Queen’s evidence legal phrase if a criminal turns Queen’s evidence, they agree to give information to the police or to a court of law to help them to catch other criminals Thesaurus: giving… …   Useful english dictionary

  • turn queen's evidence — turn king s/queen s evidence if someone who has been accused of a crime turns king s evidence, they give information in a court of law about other people involved in the crime in order to have their own punishment reduced. She was given a lenient …   New idioms dictionary

  • turn Queen's evidence — legal if a criminal turns Queen s evidence, they agree to give information to the police or to a court of law to help them to catch other criminals …   English dictionary

  • turn Queen's evidence — ► turn King s (or Queen s or US state s) evidence Law (of a criminal) give information in court against one s partners in order to receive a less severe punishment. Main Entry: ↑evidence …   English terms dictionary

  • turn King's evidence — see under ↑evident • • • Main Entry: ↑king * * * turn king s evidence Brit law used with the same meaning as turn queen s evidence when Britain is ruled by a king see QUEEN S EVIDENCE • • • Main Entry: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Queen's evidence — Evidence Ev i*dence, n. [F. [ e]vidence, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Queen's evidence — n BrE turn Queen s evidence if a criminal turns Queen s evidence, they agree to help the police and law courts to catch other criminals by giving them information →↑king s evidence, ↑State s evidence …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • queen's evidence — noun Usage: usually capitalized Q : king s evidence used when the British monarch is a queen * * * Queen s evidence see under evident ● turn * * * Queen’s evidence UK US noun british Phrase: turn Queen s evidence * …   Useful english dictionary

  • queen's evidence — n. (BE) to turn queen s evidence (see also king s evidence, state s evidence) * * * (BE) to turn queen s evidence (see also king s evidence, state s evidence) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • Queen's evidence — noun BrE turn Queen s evidence if a criminal turns Queen s evidence, they agree to help the police, law courts etc to catch other criminals by giving them information see also: evidence 1, king s evidence, State s evidence …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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