self-evidentialadj.
/ˌsɛlfɛvᵻˈdɛnʃl/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfˌɛvəˈdɛn(t)ʃəl/ Reliant on self-evidence; dependent on intrinsic evidence of its own truth or obviousness. Also simply: self-evident.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > evident certainty > [adjective] > evident without proof
self-evidencing1632
self-evident1643
axiomatical1678
self-evidential1700
gratuitous1775
axiomatic1797
1700 S. Willard Truly Blessed Man 114 Justification and Adoption..they are not self evidential, but must be proved by something that is inherent in us.
1849 Standard 14 Nov. The lecture was upon ‘The Bible—self-evidential;’ and the gentleman selected to address the association upon this great theme was the Rev. Hugh Stowell.
1872 W. Sanday Crit. Fourth Gospel i. 1 Its self-evidential force at once ceases.
1932 Times 19 May 13/5 He will, perhaps, be a little less dogmatic about the self-evidential character of parallel straight lines.
2007 Independent (Nexis) 27 Aug. 32 Psychologists may have a lot to say on the subject, but..I prefer poetry as a better source of insight than their self-evidential conclusions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1700