From Latin 'evidentia' (clearness) — 'ex-' + 'videre' (to see). Literally 'that which can be clearly seen.'
Information, facts, or objects presented to a court or inquiry to establish the truth of a matter; more broadly, anything that serves as proof.
From Old French 'evidence' (clarity, obviousness), from Latin 'ēvidentia' (clearness, vividness, distinctness), derived from 'ēvidēns' (clear, obvious, apparent), the present participle of 'ēvidēre' (to see clearly). This verb is a compound of 'ē-/ex-' (out, thoroughly) and 'vidēre' (to see). The original sense in both Latin and early English was 'that which is obvious or plain to see.' The specifically