Probable cause

Probable cause
Probable Prob"a*ble, a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See {Prove}, and cf. {Provable}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Capable of being proved. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

2. Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely. [1913 Webster]

That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it. --South. [1913 Webster]

I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain. --Bp. Wilkins. [1913 Webster]

3. Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

{Probable cause} (Law), a reasonable ground of presumption that a charge is, or my be, well founded.

{Probable error} (of an observation, or of the mean of a number), that within which, taken positively and negatively, there is an even chance that the real error shall lie. Thus, if 3[sec] is the probable error in a given case, the chances that the real error is greater than 3[sec] are equal to the chances that it is less. The probable error is computed from the observations made, and is used to express their degree of accuracy.

{The probable}, that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • probable cause — see cause 2 Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. probable cause n …   Law dictionary

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  • probable cause for statement otherwise tortious as defamatory — A reasonable ground of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficient to warrant a cautious man in believing in the truth of the statement pleaded as the basis of a cause of action for defamation. Coates v Wallace, 4 Pa Super 253, 257 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

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  • probable cause — noun Date: circa 1676 a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well founded …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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