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probable

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L325939 on Wikidata ↗

adjective

  1. likely
L3823 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/ / /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.

  1. 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.

  2. Likely to happen.

    With all the support we have, success is looking probable.

  3. Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.

    probable evidence

    From an examination of the Teutonic words for "temple" Grimm has made it probable that amongst the Germans the oldest sanctuaries were natural woods.

  4. Capable of being proved.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.

  1. Something that is likely.

    Four of the 32 251 Ku aircraft turned back, but the other 28 fought for 20 minutes against a reported 100 enemy aircraft, claiming 18 destroyed and five probables.

  2. A person who is likely to appear or do a certain thing.