*probab*

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 ]

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 ]

adv. [ Pref. un- not + probably. ] Improbably. [ 1913 Webster ]