Chapter 1212

We do not call for evidence till antecedent probabilities fail. J. H. Newman.

3. (Math.) Likelihood of the occurrence of any event in the doctrine of chances, or the ratio of the number of favorable chances to the whole number of chances, favorable and unfavorable. See 1st Chance , n. , 5.

Syn. -- Likeliness; credibleness; likelihood; chance.

Probable <Xpage=1140>

Prob"a*ble (?) , a. [L. probabilis , fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable . See Prove , and cf. Provable .]

1. Capable of being proved. [Obs.]

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

That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it. South.

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

<page="1141"> Page 1141

3. Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption.

Blackstone.

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. <-- now, usually standard deviation is used --> -- The probable , that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous .

Probably <Xpage=1141>

Prob"a*bly (?) , adv. In a probable manner; in likelihood.

Distinguish between what may possibly and what will probably be done. L'Estrange.

Probacy <Xpage=1141>

Pro"ba*cy (?) , n. [See Probate .] Proof; trial. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Probal <Xpage=1141>

Pro"bal (?) , a. Approved; probable. [Obs.]

Shak.

Probality <Xpage=1141>

Pro*bal"i*ty (?) , n. Probability. [Obs.] "With as great probality ."

Holland.

Probang <Xpage=1141>

Pro"bang (?) , n. [See Probe .] A slender elastic rod, as of whalebone, with a sponge on the end, for removing obstructions from the esophagus, etc.

Probate <Xpage=1141>

Pro"bate (?) , n. [From L. probatus , p. p. of probare to prove. See Prove .]

1. Proof. [Obs.]

Skelton.

2. (Law) (a) Official proof; especially, the proof before a competent officer or tribunal that an instrument offered, purporting to be the last will and testament of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act; the copy of a will proved, under the seal of the Court of Probate, delivered to the executors with a certificate of its having been proved . Bouvier . Burrill . (b) The right or jurisdiction of proving wills .

Probate <Xpage=1141>

Pro"bate , a. Of or belonging to a probate, or court of probate; as, a probate record .

Probate Court , &or; Court of Probate , a court for the probate of wills. -- Probate duty , a government tax on property passing by will. [Eng.]

Probate <Xpage=1141>

Pro"bate (?) v. t. To obtain the official approval of, as of an instrument purporting to be the last will and testament; as, the executor has probated the will .

Probation <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tion (?) , n. [L. probatio , fr. probare to try, examine, prove: cf. F. probation . See Prove .]

1. The act of proving; also, that which proves anything; proof. [Obs.]

When by miracle God dispensed great gifts to the laity, . . . he gave probation that he intended that all should prophesy and preach. Jer. Taylor.

2. Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation . Hence, specifically: (a) The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule. (b) The trial of a ministerial candidate's qualifications prior to his ordination, or to his settlement as a pastor. (c) Moral trial; the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character, and becoming qualified for a happier state.

No [view of human life] seems so reasonable as that which regards it as a state of probation . Paley.

Probational <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tion*al (?) , a. Probationary.

Probationary <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tion*a*ry (?) a. Of or pertaining to probation; serving for trial.

To consider this life . . . as a probationary state. Paley.

Probationer <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tion*er (?) , n.

1. One who is undergoing probation; one who is on trial; a novice.

While yet a young probationer , And candidate of heaven. Dryden.

2. A student in divinity, who, having received certificates of good morals and qualifications from his university, is admitted to several trials by a presbytery, and, on acquitting himself well, is licensed to preach. [Scot.]

Probationership <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tion*er*ship , n. The state of being a probationer; novitiate.

Locke.

Probationship <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tion*ship , n. A state of probation.

Probative <Xpage=1141>

Pro"ba*tive (?) , a. [L. probativus : cf. F. probatif .] Serving for trial or proof; probationary; as, probative judgments; probative evidence.

South.

Probator <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ba"tor (?) n. [L.]

1. An examiner; an approver.

Maydman.

2. (O. Eng. Law) One who, when indicted for crime, confessed it, and accused others, his accomplices, in order to obtain pardon; a state's evidence.

Probatory <Xpage=1141>

Pro"ba*to*ry (?) , a. [Cf. F. probatoire .]

1. Serving for trial; probationary.

Abp. Bramhall.

2. Pertaining to, or serving for, proof.

Jer. Taylor.

Probatory term (Law) , a time for taking testimony.

Probe <Xpage=1141>

Probe (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Probed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Probing .] [L. probare to try, examine. See Prove .]

1. To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe.

2. Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly.

Dryden.

The growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts, of the crown. Hallam.

Probe <Xpage=1141>

Probe , n. (Surg.) An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc.

Parr.

Probe , &or; Probe-pointed , scissors (Surg.) , scissors used to open wounds, the blade of which, to be thrust into the orifice, has a button at the end.

Wiseman.

Probeagle <Xpage=1141>

Pro"bea`gle (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Porbeagle .

Probe-pointed <Xpage=1141>

Probe"-point`ed (?) , a. (Surg.) Having a blunt or button-shaped extremity; -- said of cutting instruments.

Probity <Xpage=1141>

Prob"i*ty (?) , n. [F. probit\'82 , fr. L. probitas , fr. probus good, proper, honest. Cf. Prove .] Tried virtue or integrity; approved moral excellence; honesty; rectitude; uprightness. " Probity of mind."

Pope.

Syn. -- Probity , Integrity . Probity denotes unimpeachable honesty and virtue, shown especially by the performance of those obligations, called imperfect , which the laws of the state do not reach, and can not enforce. Integrity denotes a whole -hearted honesty, and especially that which excludes all injustice that might favor one's self. It has a peculiar reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfer of property, and the execution of trusts for others.

Problem <Xpage=1141>

Prob"lem (?) , n. [F. probl\'8ame , L. problema , fr. Gr. <?/ anything thrown forward, a question proposed for solution, fr. <?/ to throw or lay before; <?/ before, forward + <?/ to throw. Cf. Parable . ]

1. A question proposed for solution; a matter stated for examination or proof; hence, a matter difficult of solution or settlement; a doubtful case; a question involving doubt.

Bacon.

2. (Math.) Anything which is required to be done; as, in geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or, in algebra, to find an unknown quantity.

&hand; Problem differs from theorem in this, that a problem is something to be done, as to bisect a triangle, to describe a circle, etc.; a theorem is something to be proved, as that all the angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles.

Plane problem (Geom.) , a problem that can be solved by the use of the rule and compass. -- Solid problem (Geom.) , a problem requiring in its geometric solution the use of a conic section or higher curve.

Problematic, Problematical <Xpage=1141>

Prob`lem*at"ic (?) , Prob`lem*at"ic*al (?) , a. [L. problematicus , Gr. <?/: cf. F. probl\'82matique .] Having the nature of a problem; not shown in fact; questionable; uncertain; unsettled; doubtful. -- Prob`lem*at"ic*al*ly , adv.

Diligent inquiries into remote and problematical guilt leave a gate wide open to . . . informers. Swift.

Problematist <Xpage=1141>

Prob"lem*a*tist (?) n. One who proposes problems. [R.]

Evelyn.

Problematize <Xpage=1141>

Prob"lem*a*tize (?) v. t. To propose problems. [R.] "Hear him problematize ."

B. Jonson.

Proboscidate <Xpage=1141>

Pro*bos"ci*date (?) , a. [See Proboscis .] (Zo\'94l.) Having a proboscis; proboscidial.

Proboscidea <Xpage=1141>

Pro`bos*cid"e*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Proboscis .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of large mammal<?/ including the elephants and mastodons.

Proboscidean <Xpage=1141>

Pro`bos*cid"e*an (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Proboscidian.

Proboscidial <Xpage=1141>

Pro`bos*cid"i*al (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Proboscidate.

Proboscidian <Xpage=1141>

Pro`bos*cid"i*an (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Pertaining to the Proboscidea. -- n. One of the Proboscidea.

Proboscidifera <Xpage=1141>

Pro*bos`ci*dif"e*ra (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Proboscis , and -ferous .]

1. (Zo\'94l.) An extensive division of pectinibranchiate gastropods, including those that have a long retractile proboscis, with the mouth at the end, as the cones, whelks, tritons, and cowries. See Illust . of Gastropoda , and of Winkle .

2. (Zo\'94l.) A subdivision of the t\'91nioglossate gastropods, including the fig-shells ( Pyrula ), the helmet shells ( Cassis ), the tritons, and allied genera.

Proboscidiform <Xpage=1141>

Pro`bos*cid"i*form (?) a. Having the form or uses of a proboscis; as, a proboscidiform mouth .

Proboscis <Xpage=1141>

Pro*bos"cis (?) , n. ; pl. Proboscides (#) . [L. fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ before + <?/ to feed, graze.]

1. (Zo\'94l.) A hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with the mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or drink; a snout; a trunk.

&hand; The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular elongation of the nose. The proboscis of insects is usually a chitinous tube formed by the modified maxill\'91, or by the labium. See Illusts . of Hemiptera and Lepidoptera .

2. (Zo\'94l.) By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded.

&hand; The proboscis of annelids and of mollusks is usually a portion of the pharynx that can be everted or protruded. That of nemerteans is a special long internal organ, not connected with the mouth, and not used in feeding, but capable of being protruded from a pore in the head. See Illust . in Appendix.

3. The nose. [Jocose]

Proboscis monkey . (Zo\'94l.) See Kahau .

Procacious <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ca"cious (?) , a. [L. procax , -acis , fr. procare to ask, demand.] Pert; petulant; forward; saucy. [R.]

Barrow.

Procacity <Xpage=1141>

Pro*cac"i*ty (?) n. [L. procacitas .] Forwardness; pertness; petulance. [R.]

Burton.

Procambium <Xpage=1141>

Pro*cam"bi*um (?) n. [NL. See Pro- , and Cambium .] (Bot.) The young tissue of a fibrovascular bundle before its component cells have begun to be differentiated.

Sachs.

Procatarctic <Xpage=1141>

Pro`cat*arc"tic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ beginning beforehand. fr. <?/ to begin first; <?/ before + <?/ to begin; <?/ intens. + <?/ to begin: cf. F. procatarctique . ] (Med.) Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial. [Obs.]

&hand; The words procatarctic causes have been used with different significations. Thus they have been employed synonymously with prime causes , exciting causes , and predisposing or remote causes .

The physician inquires into the procatarctic causes. Harvey.

Procatarxis <Xpage=1141>

Pro`cat*arx"is (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ first beginning.] (Med.) The kindling of a disease into action; also, the procatarctic cause.

Quincy.

Procedendo <Xpage=1141>

Pro`ce*den"do (?) , n. [Abl. of the gerundive of L. procedere . see Proceed .] (Law) (a) A writ by which a cause which has been removed on insufficient grounds from an inferior to a superior court by certiorari , or otherwise, is sent down again to the same court, to be proceeded in there. (b) In English practice, a writ issuing out of chancery in cases where the judges of subordinate courts delay giving judgment, commanding them to proceed to judgment. (c) A writ by which the commission of the justice of the peace is revived, after having been suspended.

Tomlins. Burrill.

Procedure <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ce"dure (?) , n. [F. proc\'82dure . See Proceed .] 1. The act or manner of proceeding or moving forward; progress; process; operation; conduct . "The true procedure of conscience."

South.

2. A step taken; an act performed; a proceeding; the steps taken in an action or other legal proceeding. "Gracious procedures ."

I. Taylor.

3. That which results; issue; product. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Proceed <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ceed" (?) v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Proceeded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Proceeding .] [F. proc\'82der . fr. L. procedere , processum , to go before, to proceed; pro forward + cedere to move. See Cede .]

1. To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to continue or renew motion begun; as, to proceed on a journey .

If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Shak.

2. To pass from one point, topic, or stage, to another; as, to proceed with a story or argument .

3. To issue or come forth as from a source or origin; to come from; as, light proceeds from the sun .

I proceeded forth and came from God. John viii. 42.

It proceeds from policy, not love. Shak.

4. To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and carry on a series of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design.

He that proceeds upon other principles in his inquiry. Locke.

5. To be transacted; to take place; to occur. [Obs.]

He will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Shak.

6. To have application or effect; to operate.

This rule only proceeds and takes place when a person can not of common law condemn another by his sentence. Ayliffe.

7. (Law) To begin and carry on a legal process.

Syn. -- To advance; go on; continue; progress; issue; arise; emanate.

Proceed <Xpage=1141>

Pro"ceed (?) n. See Proceeds . [Obs.]

Howell.

Proceeder <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ceed"er (?) , n. One who proceeds.

Proceeding <Xpage=1141>

Pro*ceed"ing , n.

1. The act of one who proceeds, or who prosecutes a design or transaction; progress or movement from one thing to another; a measure or step taken in a course of business; a transaction; as, an illegal proceeding ; a cautious or a violent proceeding .

The proceedings of the high commission. Macaulay.

2. pl. (Law) The course of procedure in the prosecution of an action at law.

Blackstone.

Proceedings of a society , the published record of its action, or of things done at its meetings.

Syn. -- Procedure; measure; step, See Transaction .

Proceeds <Xpage=1141>

Pro"ceeds (?) , n. pl. That which comes forth or results; effect; yield; issue; product; sum accruing from a sale, etc.

Proceleusmatic <Xpage=1141>

Proc`e*leus*mat"ic (?) , a. [L. proceleusmaticus , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to rouse to action beforehand; <?/ + <?/ to incite; cf. F. proc\'82leusmatique .]

1. Inciting; animating; encouraging. [R.]

Johnson.

2. (Pros.) Consisting of four short syllables; composed of feet of four short syllables each.

Proceleusmatic <Xpage=1141>

Proc`e*leus*mat"ic (?) , n. (Pros.) A foot consisting of four short syllables.

Procellarian <Xpage=1141>

Pro`cel*la"ri*an (?) , n. [L. procella a storm.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family of oceanic birds ( Procellarid\'91 ) including the petrels, fulmars, and shearwaters. They are often seen in great abundance in stormy weather.

Procellous <Xpage=1141>

Pro*cel"lous (?) , a. [L. procellosus , fr. procella a storm.] Stormy. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Procephalic <Xpage=1141>

Pro`ce*phal"ic (?) , a. [Pref. pro- + cephalic .] (Zo\'94l.) Pertaining to, or forming, the front of the head.

Procephalic lobe (Zo\'94l.) , that part of the head of an invertebrate animal which is in front of the mouth.

Proception <Xpage=1141>

Pro*cep"tion (?) , n. [Pref. pro- + L. capere to take.] Preoccupation. [Obs.]

Eikon Basilik<?/.

Procere <Xpage=1141>

Pro*cere" (?) , a. [L. procerus tall.] Of high stature; tall. [Obs.]

Evelyn.

Procerebrum <Xpage=1141>