hearsay

hearsay
/hear"say'/, n.
1. unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge: I pay no attention to hearsay.
2. an item of idle or unverified information or gossip; rumor: a malicious hearsay.
adj.
3. of, pertaining to, or characterized by hearsay: hearsay knowledge; a hearsay report.
[1525-35; orig. in phrase by hear say, trans. of MF par ouïr dire]
Syn. 1. talk, scuttlebutt, babble, tittle-tattle.

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law
      in Anglo-American law (common law), testimony that consists of what the witness has heard others say. United States and English courts may refuse to admit testimony that depends for its value upon the truthfulness and accuracy of one who is neither under oath nor available for cross-examination. The rule is subject, however, to many exceptions. In continental European law, where there is no jury to be protected from misleading testimony, judges may consider any evidence that they consider pertinent to reaching a decision. See also circumstantial evidence.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • hearsay — hear·say / hir ˌsā/ n: a statement made out of court and not under oath which is offered as proof that what is stated is true – called also hearsay evidence; Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. hearsay …   Law dictionary

  • Hearsay — Hear say (h[=e]r s[=a] ), n. Report; rumor; fame; common talk; something heard from another. [1913 Webster] Much of the obloquy that has so long rested on the memory of our great national poet originated in frivolous hearsays of his life and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hearsay — [hir′sā΄] n. [< phrase to hear say, parallel to Ger hörensagen] something one has heard but does not know to be true; rumor; gossip adj. based on hearsay …   English World dictionary

  • hearsay — 1530s, perhaps mid 15c., from phrase to hear say …   Etymology dictionary

  • hearsay — n *report, rumor, gossip …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • hearsay — [n] unsubstantiated information clothesline*, comment, cry, gossip, grapevine*, leak*, mere talk*, noise*, report, rumble*, rumor, scandal, scuttlebutt*, talk, talk of the town*, word of mouth*; concepts 51,278 Ant. evidence, proof, reality,… …   New thesaurus

  • hearsay — ► NOUN ▪ information which cannot be adequately substantiated; rumour …   English terms dictionary

  • hearsay — A term applied to that species of testimony given by a witness who relates, not what he knows personally, but what others have told him, or what he has heard said by others. A statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at… …   Black's law dictionary

  • hearsay — A term applied to that species of testimony given by a witness who relates, not what he knows personally, but what others have told him, or what he has heard said by others. A statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at… …   Black's law dictionary

  • hearsay — noun VERB + HEARSAY ▪ be based on, rely on ▪ Her judgements are based on hearsay rather than evidence. HEARSAY + NOUN ▪ evidence PREPOSITION ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • Hearsay — Not to be confused with heresy. Hearsay is a legal term referring to the use of out of court statements as evidence.WorldwideUnited StatesUnless one of the many exceptions applies, hearsay is not allowed as evidence in the United States.England… …   Wikipedia

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