Probabilities

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Probability \Prob`a*bil"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Probabilities}. [L.
     probabilitas: cf. F. probabilit['e].]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of
        reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption;
        likelihood.


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              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.
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     2. That which is or appears probable; anything that has the
        appearance of reality or truth.
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              The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of
              evidence and balancing of probabilities.
                                                    --Buckminster.
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              We do not call for evidence till antecedent
              probabilities fail.                   --J. H.
                                                    Newman.
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     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.
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