probable Copy link Outline 1. sĭmĭlis vēri, or in reversed order; freq. written as single word, verisimilis2. prŏbābĭlis, e (denoting the quality which things "like truth," veri similia, have of commending themselves to us • probable: 1. sĭmĭlis vēri, or in reversed order; freq. written as single word, verisimilis: to enquire after what is most p., quid sit simillimum veri quaerere, Cic. Tusc. 5, 4, 11: to distinguish the p. from the incredible, veri similia ab incredibilibus dijudicare, id. Part. 40, 139. Also, similis vero (dat.), id. Fam. 12, 5, init. (id facilius credebatur quia simile vero videbatur). The phr. veri simile est (it is p. that), is foll. by acc. and inf., Cic. R. Am. 37, 106; but non veri simile est, takes rather ut and subj.: cf. Cic. R. Am. 41, 121: id. Verr. 4, 6, 11 = it is not to be supposed that: cf. Zumpt, § 623. 2. prŏbābĭlis, e (denoting the quality which things "like truth," veri similia, have of commending themselves to us: v. plausible): a p. inference, p. conjectura [et ratio], id. Div. 2, 6, 16: cf. id. Inv. 1, 29, 46, where a full definition of the word is given. (N.B.--It is p. that ... is expr. by veri simile est, not probabile est.) Phr.: if however the other is more p., sin autem illa veriora, Cic. Am. 4, 14: this is more p., hoc vero propius est, Liv. 4, 37, init.: so, proximum vero est, it is most p., id. 2, 14: to be the more p. (of two opinions), propius accedere ad veritatem, Cic. de Or. 1, 62, init.