Evidential

/ˌɛvɪˈdɛnʃəl/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or serving as evidence; based on or providing proof that something is true.

Etymology

From 'evidence' plus the suffix '-ial' (relating to), creating an adjective form. Both 'evidential' and 'evidentiary' are modern formations from Latin 'evidentia,' but 'evidential' is more common in linguistics and formal discourse.

Kelly Says

In linguistics, 'evidentiality' is actually a grammatical category in some languages—certain verbs change form based on how the speaker knows something (whether they saw it, heard about it, or inferred it), making evidence a core part of grammar itself.

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