imply &c. (evidence) 467; bid fair &c. (promise) 511; stand fair for;
stand a good chance, run a good chance. think likely, dare say, flatter
oneself; expect &c. 507; count upon &c. (believe) 484. Adj. probable,
likely, hopeful, to be expected, in a fair way. plausible, specious,
ostensible, colorable, ben trovato[It], well- founded, reasonable,
credible, easy of belief, presumable, presumptive, apparent. Adv.
probably &c. adj.; belike[obs3]; in all probability, in all likelihood;
very likely, most likely; like enough; odds on, odds in favor, ten &c.
to one; apparently, seemingly, according to every reasonable
expectation; prim facie[Lat]; to all appearance &c. (to the eye) 448.
Phr. the chances, the odds are; appearances are in favor of, chances
are in favor of; there is reason to believe, there is reason to think,
there is reason to expect; I dare say; all Lombard Street to a China
orange.
#473. Improbability.—N. improbability, unlikelihood; unfavorable
chance, bad chance, ghost of a chance, little chance, small chance,
poor chance, scarcely any chance, no chance; bare possibility; long
odds; incredibility &c. 485. V. be improbable &c. adj.; have a small
chance &c. n. Adj. improbable, unlikely, contrary to all reasonable
expectation; wild, far out, out of sight, outtasight, heavy [all
coll.]. rare &c. (infrequent) 137; unheard of, inconceivable;
unimaginable, inimaginable[obs3]; incredible &c. 485; more than
doubtful; strange, bizarre (uncomformable) 83. Phr. the chances are
against; aquila non capit muscas[Lat]; pedir peras pal olmo[Lat].
#474. Certainty.—N. certainty; necessity &c. 601; certitude,
surety, assurance; dead certainty, moral certainty; infallibleness &c.
adj.; infallibility, reliability; indubitableness, inevitableness,
unquestionableness[obs3]. gospel, scripture, church, pope, court of
final appeal; res judicata[Lat], ultimatum positiveness; dogmatism,
dogmatist, dogmatizer; doctrinaire, bigot, opinionist[obs3], Sir
Oracle; ipse dixit[Lat]. fact; positive fact, matter of fact; fait
accompli[Fr]. V. be certain &c. adj.; stand to reason. render certain
&c. adj.; insure, ensure, assure; clinch, make sure; determine, decide,
set at rest, "make assurance double sure" [Macbeth]; know &c. (believe)