Probable
/ˈprɒb.ə.bəl/noun
Likely to be true or to happen.
Did you know?Probable comes from Latin *probabilis*, meaning “worthy of approval,” from *probare* “to test, prove, approve,” so the word’s oldest energy is less prediction and more official validation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pro-bhā- / *pro-bʰeh₂-
“To make appear, show, or prove”
Latin
Latin
probare
“To test, try, approve, prove”
Latin
Latin
probabilis
“Worthy of approval; credible; likely”
Old French
Old French
probable
“Likely, credible”
Middle English
English
probable
“Likely to be true or happen”
Modern English
English
probable
“Likely to be true or happen”