Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class IV. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
Division (I) Formation of Ideas
Section III. Materials for Reasoning

473. Improbability.

   NOUN:IMPROBABILITY, unlikelihood; unfavorable -, bad -, ghost of a -, little -, small -, poor -, scarcely any -, no- chance; bare possibility; long odds; incredibility [See Unbelief. Doubt].
   VERB:BE IMPROBABLE &c. adj.; violate -, stretch- the probabilities; go beyond reason, strain one’s credulity; run counter to the laws of nature; have a small chance &c. n.; stand a poor show [colloq.].
   ADJECTIVE:IMPROBABLE, unlikely, contrary to all reasonable expectation; contrary to -fact, – experience; implausible, rare (infrequent) [See Infrequency]; unheard of, inconceivable; unimaginable, inimaginable [obs.]; incredible [See Unbelief. Doubt]; more than doubtful.
   INTERJECTION:NOT LIKELY! no fear! [chiefly Eng.]; I ask you! [slang]; catch me! [slang].    QUOTATIONS:

1. The chances are against.
2. Aquila non capit muscas.
3. Pedir peras al olmo.
4. Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view.—Gay