*prob*

v. t. To express approbation of; to approve; to sanction officially. [ 1913 Webster ]

I approbate the one, I reprobate the other. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is obsolete in England, but is occasionally heard in the United States, chiefly in a technical sense for license; as, a person is approbated to preach; approbated to keep a public house. Pickering (1816). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. approbatio: cf. F. approbation. See Approve to prove. ] 1. Proof; attestation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval; sanction; commendation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many . . . joined in a loud hum of approbation. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The silent approbation of one's own breast. Melmoth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Animals . . . love approbation or praise. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Probation or novitiate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Approval; liking; sanction; consent; concurrence. -- Approbation, Approval. Approbation and approval have the same general meaning, assenting to or declaring as good, sanction, commendation; but approbation is stronger and more positive. “We may be anxious for the approbation of our friends; but we should be still more anxious for the approval of our own consciences.” “He who is desirous to obtain universal approbation will learn a good lesson from the fable of the old man and his ass.” “The work has been examined by several excellent judges, who have expressed their unqualified approval of its plan and execution.” [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. approbatif. ] Approving, or implying approbation. Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being approbative. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Phren.) Love of approbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who approves. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing or expressing approbation; commendatory. Sheldon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. comprobatus, p. p. of comprobare, to approve wholly. ] To agree; to concur. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. comprobatio. ] 1. Joint attestation; proof. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Approbation. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. dis- + approbation: cf. F. désapprobation. Cf. Disapprove. ] The act of disapproving; mental condemnation of what is judged wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; feeling of censure. We have ever expressed the most unqualified disapprobation of all the steps. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. exprobratus, p. p. of exprobrare; ex out + probrum a shameful or disgraceful act. ] To charge upon with reproach; to upbraid. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. exprobration: cf. F. exprobration. ] Reproachful accusation; upbraiding. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A fearful exprobration of our unworthiness. Jer. Taylor.

{ } a. Expressing reproach; upbraiding; reproachful. [ R. ] Sir A. Shirley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Improbabilities [ Cf. F. improbabilité. ] The quality or state of being improbable; unlikelihood; also, that which is improbable; an improbable event or result. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. improbabilis; pref. im- not + probabilis probable: cf. F. improbable. See Probable. ] Not probable; unlikely to be true; not to be expected under the circumstances or in the usual course of events; as, an improbable story or event. [ 1913 Webster ]

He . . . sent to Elutherius, then bishop of Rome, an improbable letter, as some of the contents discover. Milton.

-- Im*prob"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prob"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. improbatus, p. p. of improbare to disapprove; pref. im- not + probare to approve. ] To disapprove of; to disallow. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. improbatio. ] 1. The act of disapproving; disapprobation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Scots Law) The act by which falsehood and forgery are proved; an action brought for the purpose of having some instrument declared false or forged. Bell.

{ , a. Implying, or tending to, improbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. improbitas; pref. im- not + probitas probity: cf. F. improbité. ] Lack of probity; lack of integrity or rectitude; dishonesty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Persons . . . cast out for notorious improbity. Hooker.

a. [ L. opprobriosus, fr. opprobrium. See Opprobrium. ] 1. Expressive of opprobrium; attaching disgrace; reproachful; scurrilous; as, opprobrious language. [ 1913 Webster ]

They . . . vindicate themselves in terms no less opprobrious than those by which they are attacked. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Infamous; despised; rendered hateful; as, an opprobrious name. [ 1913 Webster ]

This dark, opprobrious den of shame. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Op*pro"bri*ous*ly, adv. -- Op*pro"bri*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. ob (see Ob-) + probrum reproach, disgrace. ] A state of disgrace; infamy; reproach mingled with contempt; odium{ 3 }. [ 1913 Webster+PJC ]

2. Abusive language. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being both dramatic author and dramatic performer, he found himself heir to a twofold opprobrium. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Opprobrium. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The doctrine of the probabiliorists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. probabilior, compar. of probabilis probable. ] (Casuistry) One who holds, in opposition to the probabilists, that a man is bound to do that which is most probably right. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. probabilisme. ] The doctrine of the probabilists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. probabiliste. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who maintains that certainty is impossible, and that probability alone is to govern our faith and actions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Casuistry) One who maintains that a man may do that which has a probability of being right, or which is inculcated by teachers of authority, although other opinions may seem to him still more probable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Probabilities [ L. probabilitas: cf. F. probabilité. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Probability is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas, by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is or appears probable; anything that has the appearance of reality or truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of probabilities. Buckminster. [ 1913 Webster ]

We do not call for evidence till antecedent probabilities fail. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Math.) Likelihood of the occurrence of any event in the doctrine of chances, or the ratio of the number of favorable chances to the whole number of chances, favorable and unfavorable. See 1st Chance, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Likeliness; credibleness; likelihood; chance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See Prove, and cf. Provable. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Capable of being proved. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely. [ 1913 Webster ]

That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Probable cause (Law), a reasonable ground of presumption that a charge is, or my be, well founded. --
Probable error (of an observation, or of the mean of a number), that within which, taken positively and negatively, there is an even chance that the real error shall lie. Thus, if 3″ is the probable error in a given case, the chances that the real error is greater than 3″ are equal to the chances that it is less. The probable error is computed from the observations made, and is used to express their degree of accuracy. --
The probable, that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a probable manner; in likelihood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Distinguish between what may possibly and what will probably be done. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Probate. ] Proof; trial. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Approved; probable. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Probability. [ Obs. ] “With as great probality.” Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Probe. ] A slender elastic rod, as of whalebone, with a sponge on the end, for removing obstructions from the esophagus, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. probatus, p. p. of probare to prove. See Prove. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Proof. [ Obs. ] Skelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) Official proof; especially, the proof before a competent officer or tribunal that an instrument offered, purporting to be the last will and testament of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act; the copy of a will proved, under the seal of the Court of Probate, delivered to the executors with a certificate of its having been proved. Bouvier. Burrill. (b) The right or jurisdiction of proving wills. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or belonging to a probate, or court of probate; as, a probate record. [ 1913 Webster ]

Probate Court, or
Court of Probate, a court for the probate of wills. --
Probate duty, a government tax on property passing by will. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To obtain the official approval of, as of an instrument purporting to be the last will and testament; as, the executor has probated the will. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. probatio, fr. probare to try, examine, prove: cf. F. probation. See Prove. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of proving; also, that which proves anything; proof. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When by miracle God dispensed great gifts to the laity, . . . he gave probation that he intended that all should prophesy and preach. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation. Hence, specifically: (a) The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule. (b) The trial of a ministerial candidate's qualifications prior to his ordination, or to his settlement as a pastor. (c) Moral trial; the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character, and becoming qualified for a happier state. [ 1913 Webster ]

No [ view of human life ] seems so reasonable as that which regards it as a state of probation. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Probationary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to probation; serving for trial. [ 1913 Webster ]

To consider this life . . . as a probationary state. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who is undergoing probation; one who is on trial; a novice. [ 1913 Webster ]

While yet a young probationer,
And candidate of heaven. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A student in divinity, who, having received certificates of good morals and qualifications from his university, is admitted to several trials by a presbytery, and, on acquitting himself well, is licensed to preach. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being a probationer; novitiate. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A state of probation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. probativus: cf. F. probatif. ] Serving for trial or proof; probationary; as, probative judgments; probative evidence. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] 1. An examiner; an approver. Maydman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (O. Eng. Law) One who, when indicted for crime, confessed it, and accused others, his accomplices, in order to obtain pardon; a state's evidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. probatoire. ] 1. Serving for trial; probationary. Abp. Bramhall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to, or serving for, proof. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Probatory term (Law), a time for taking testimony. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Probed p. pr. & vb. n. Probing. ] [ L. probare to try, examine. See Prove. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts, of the crown. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Surg.) An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc. Parr. [ 1913 Webster ]

Probe scissors, or
Probe-pointed scissors (Surg.), scissors used to open wounds, the blade of which, to be thrust into the orifice, has a button at the end. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Porbeagle. [ 1913 Webster ]