probability

noun
/ˌpɹɒb.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/UK/ˌpɹɑb.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/CA/ˌpɹɔb.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Etymology

From Middle French probabilité, from Latin probābilitās (“probability, credibility”), from probābilis (“probable, credible”).

  1. derived from probābilitās
  2. borrowed from probabilité

Definitions

  1. The state of being probable.

    • Thus, firſt Traditions were a proof alone; / Cou’d we be certain ſuch they were ſo known: / But ſince ſome Flaws in long deſcent may be, / They make not Truth but Probability.
  2. An event that is likely to occur.

    • These waters wash from the rocks such glistering tinctures, that the ground in some places seemeth as guilded, that better iudgements then ours might haue been perswaded, they contained more then probabilities.
    • As all experience shows, the probabilities are, that you will waste the rich treasure of your affection on one who has none to give in return, or who is wholly unworthy of the gift.
  3. The relative likelihood of an event happening.

    • Hoyle said that the probability of life originating on Earth is no greater than the chance that a hurricane, sweeping through a scrapyard, would have the luck to assemble a Boeing 747.
  4. + 1 more definition
    1. A number, between 0 and 1, expressing the precise likelihood of an event happening.

      • The probability of an event A occurring is denoted P(A).

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at probability. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01probability02occur03presented04specified05thoroughly06thorough07detail08casual09chance

A definitional loop anchored at probability. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

9 hops · closes at probability

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA