The Collaborative International Dictionary
Probable \Prob"a*ble\, a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See Prove, and cf. Provable.]
Capable of being proved. [Obs.]
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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. -
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[sec] is the probable error in a given case, the chances that the real error is greater than 3[sec] 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.
Usage examples of "the probable".
No doubt some few anomalies occur in this great archipelago, and there is much difficulty in forming a judgment in some cases owing to the probable naturalisation of certain mammals through man's agency.
The name of Diva gens or Divorum regio, according to the probable conjecture of M.
Cyrus Harding and his companions, before returning to Granite House, desired to ascertain the probable direction this inundation of lava was about to take.
What Jerison has done is to reconstruct the probable EQs of extinct animals that now exist only as fossils.
The answers to those questions would, in a way, enlighten us as to the probable location of the money, because, remember, it would have to be placed where it was readily accessible in case of flight.
The reasons for this seem to lie partly in the probable concentration on the information-rich 4-digit messages, partly in the many more 3-digit systems in use and the consequent difficulty of finding overlaps to strip off the additive and of getting sufficient text for solutions.
It being a breach of the rules and articles of war (as well as tending to the probable destruction of the party) do sentence him to receive one hundred lashes on his bare back, at four different times in equal proportion.
A quick look at a map made the probable work location the Fleet Strike Tower.