Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Probable
Prob′a-ble
,Adj.
1.
Capable of being proved.
[Obs.]
2.
Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely.
That is accounted
probable
which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it. South.
I do not say that the principles of religion are merely
probable
; I have before asserted them to be morally certain. Bp. Wilkins.
3.
Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating;
as,
probable
evidence; probable
presumption. Blackstone.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Probable
PROB'ABLE
,Adj.
1.
Likely; having more evidence than the contrary, or evidence which inclines the mind to belief, but leaves some room for doubt.That is accounted probable, which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it.
I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain.
2.
That renders something probable; as probable evidence, or probable presumption.3.
That may be proved. [Not in use.]Definition 2024
probable
probable
English
Adjective
probable (comparative more probable, superlative most probable)
- Likely or most likely to be true.
- It's probable that it will rain tomorrow.
- The probable source of the failure was the mass of feathers in the intake manifold.
- Likely to happen.
- With all the support we have, success is looking probable.
- Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.
- probable evidence; probable presumption
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Blackstone to this entry?)
- (obsolete) Capable of being proved.
Related terms
Antonyms
Translations
likely to be true
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likely to happen
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See also
Noun
probable (plural probables)
- Something that it likely to occur
- A person that is likely to appear or do a certain thing.
External links
- probable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- probable in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Asturian
Etymology
From Latin probābilis.
Adjective
probable (epicene, plural probables)
Antonyms
Related terms
- probabilidá
Catalan
Etymology
From Latin probābilis.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -aβle
Adjective
probable m, f (masculine and feminine plural probables)
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
French
Etymology
From Latin probābilis.
Pronunciation
Adjective
probable m, f (plural probables)
- probable (all meanings)
Related terms
Galician
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Latin probābilis.
Adjective
probable m, f (plural probables)
Antonyms
- improbable, improbábel
Derived terms
Related terms
Spanish
Etymology
From Latin probābilis.
Pronunciation
Adjective
probable m, f (plural probables)