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Probability
Definitions
- 1 The state of being probable. countable, uncountable
"For, a man may with as great probability derive the Scots pedigree from the Gods, as from Scota that ſuppoſed and counterfeit daughter of the Ægyptian King Pharao, wedded (forſooth) unto Gaithelus, the ſonne of Cecrops founder of Athens. But, as this conceit ariſing from the unskilfulneſſe of Antiquitie, is of the better ſort of ingenuous Scots rejected: […]"
- 2 the quality of being probable; a probable event or the most probable event wordnet
- 3 An event that is likely to occur. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 4 a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible wordnet
- 5 The relative likelihood of an event happening. countable, uncountable
"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."
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- 6 A number, between 0 and 1, expressing the precise likelihood of an event happening. countable, uncountable
"The probability of an event A occurring is denoted P(A)."
Etymology
From Middle French probabilité, from Latin probābilitās (“probability, credibility”), from probābilis (“probable, credible”).
See also for "probability"
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Unscramble this word: probability