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