PROBABLE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Probable

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/prˈɑbəbəl/ Listen

adjective

Probable 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." "I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain."

3.

Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption.

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.

See images of 'Probable'

Etymology of 'Probable'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Probable" Quotes from Famous Books

... home," said Ida, "who cannot endure the sight of a cat. I wish she could hear some of these incidents; it is probable that it might change ...

— Minnie's Pet Cat • Madeline Leslie

... a watch was kept at night, though it was not thought probable that the Indians, even should they discover the absence of Loraine and Keith, ...

— The Frontier Fort - Stirring Times in the N-West Territory of British America • W. H. G. Kingston

... not seen her, nor had any one else. Horace and Abner went up to the Pines, but the forest beyond they never thought of exploring; it did not seem probable that such a small child could have strolled to such a distance ...

— Dotty Dimple's Flyaway • Sophie May

... I was only about to observe that, as Caxton is known to have printed upon vellum,[276] it is most probable that one of his presentation copies of the romances of Jason and Godfrey of Boulogne (executed under the patronage of Edward IV.), might have been printed in the same manner. Be this as it may, it seems reasonable to conclude that ...

— Bibliomania; or Book-Madness - A Bibliographical Romance • Thomas Frognall Dibdin

... for so I shall now call him, had a very sharp look-out kept lest we should again fall in with the Salee Rover, or any of his consorts, which, it was very probable, might still be hovering about in that part of the ocean. The first day after parting company with the Rainbow passed by without a single sail heaving in sight. The breeze had got round to the southward, so that we had a fair wind; and as it was light, we ...

— Old Jack • W.H.G. Kingston

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