BURDEN OF PROOF • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Burden of proof

Burden n. (Written also burthen)

That which is borne or carried; a load. "Plants with goodly burden bowing."

That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive. "Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone, To all my friends a burden grown."

The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden.

(Mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.

(Metal.) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.

A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.

A birth. (Obs. & R.)

Beast of burden, an animal employed in carrying burdens.

Burden of proof (Law), the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed.

Synonyms: Burden, Load. A burden is, in the literal sense, a weight to be borne; a load is something laid upon us to be carried. Hence, when used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two words. Our burdens may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a load, we commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men often find the charge of their own families to be a burden; but if to this be added a load of care for others, the pressure is usually serve and irksome.