different between seldom vs probable

English

Alternative forms

• seldome (obsolete)

Etymology

From late Middle English seldom, alteration of earlier selden, from Old English seldan (“seldom”), from Proto-Germanic *seldan?. Cognate with Saterland Frisian säilden (“seldom”), West Frisian selden, komselden (“rare, seldom”), Dutch zelden, German selten, Danish sjælden, Norwegian sjelden, Swedish sällan, Faroese sjáldan, Icelandic sjaldan. More at seld and selly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?ld?m/

Adverb

seldom (comparative more seldom or seldomer, superlative most seldom or seldomest)

1. Infrequently, rarely.

   Synonyms: barely, hardly, rarely, scarcely, infrequently, seldomly; see also Thesaurus:occasionally

   Antonyms: often, frequently; see also Thesaurus:often

Usage notes

• It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. Compare he seldom ever plays tennis with he almost never plays tennis.
• The form seldomly, derived from the (now archaic) adjectival use, exists, but has not gained widespread acceptance.

Derived terms

• seldom or ever
• seldomtimes
• unseldom

Translations

Adjective

seldom (comparative more seldom or seldomer, superlative most seldom or seldomest)

1. (archaic) Rare; infrequent.

   Synonyms: geason, uncommon; see also Thesaurus:rare

   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living

     a suppressed and seldom anger

Derived terms

• seldomly
• seldomness

Related terms

• seld

Translations

Anagrams

• lesdom, models, somdel

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English seldan.

Adverb

seldom

1. Alternative form of selden (“seldom”)

Etymology 2

From Old English selden.

Adjective

seldom

1. Alternative form of selden (“uncommon”)

English

Etymology

From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin prob?bilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from prob?re (“to test, examine”); see probe, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??b?bl?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??b?bl?/
• Hyphenation: prob?a?ble

Adjective

probable (comparative more probable, superlative most probable)

1. Likely or most likely to be true.

2. Likely to happen.

3. Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.
4. (obsolete) Capable of being proved.

Antonyms

• improbable

Related terms

• probability
• probable cause
• probably

Translations

See also

• possible
• probeable

Noun

probable (plural probables)

1. Something that is likely.
   • 2013, Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa, Christopher Shores, Japanese Naval Fighter Aces 1932-45 (page 57)

     Four of the 32 251 Ku aircraft turned back, but the other 28 fought for 20 minutes against a reported 100 enemy aircraft, claiming 18 destroyed and five probables.

2. A person who is likely to appear or do a certain thing.

Further reading

• probable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• probable in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin prob?bilis.

Adjective

probable (epicene, plural probables)

1. probable

Antonyms

• improbable

Related terms

• probabilidá

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin prob?bilis.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /p?o?ba.bl?/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /p?u?ba.bl?/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /p?o?ba.ble/
• Rhymes: -a?le

Adjective

probable (masculine and feminine plural probables)

1. probable

Antonyms

• improbable

Derived terms

• probablement

Related terms

• probabilitat

Further reading

• “probable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

French

Etymology

From Latin prob?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??.babl/

Adjective

probable (plural probables)

1. probable (all meanings)

Related terms

• improbable
• probabilité
• probablement

Further reading

• “probable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Galician

Alternative forms

• probábel

Etymology

From Latin prob?bilis.

Adjective

probable m or f (plural probables)

1. probable

Antonyms

• improbable, improbábel

Derived terms

• probablemente

Related terms

• probabilidade

Ido

Adverb

probable

1. probably

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin prob?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?o?bable/, [p?o???a.??le]

Adjective

probable (plural probables)

1. probable, likely
2. provable

Antonyms

• improbable

Derived terms

• probablemente

Related terms

• probabilidad