n. The state or quality of being absorbable. Graham (Chemistry). [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. The doctrine of a modern religious pantheistical sect in Persia, which was founded, about 1844, by Mirza Ali Mohammed ibn Rabhik (1820 -- 1850), who assumed the title of Bab-ed-Din (Per., Gate of the Faith). Babism is a mixture of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Parsi elements. This doctrine forbids concubinage and polygamy, and frees women from many of the degradations imposed upon them among the orthodox Muslims. Mendicancy, the use of intoxicating liquors and drugs, and slave dealing, are forbidden; asceticism is discountenanced. -- Bab"ist, n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

‖n. [ F., a babbler. ] (Zool.) The lesser whitethroat of Europe; -- called also babbling warbler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Dr. Babbington. ] (Min.) A mineral occurring in triclinic crystals approaching pyroxene in angle, and of a greenish black color. It is a silicate of iron, manganese, and lime. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ See Baboon. ] A baboon. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ ‖ } n. [ F. babiroussa, fr. Malay bābī hog + rūsa deer. ] (Zool.) A large hoglike quadruped (Sus babirussa, syn. Porcus babirussa) of the East Indies, sometimes domesticated; the Indian hog. Its upper canine teeth or tusks are large and recurved. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a babe; a childish; babyish. [ R. ] “Babish imbecility.” Drayton. -- Bab"ish*ly, adv. -- Bab"ish*ness, n. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A believer in Babism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being imperturbable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Improbabilities [ Cf. F. improbabilité. ] The quality or state of being improbable; unlikelihood; also, that which is improbable; an improbable event or result. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being perturbable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The doctrine of the probabiliorists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. probabilior, compar. of probabilis probable. ] (Casuistry) One who holds, in opposition to the probabilists, that a man is bound to do that which is most probably right. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. probabilisme. ] The doctrine of the probabilists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. probabiliste. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who maintains that certainty is impossible, and that probability alone is to govern our faith and actions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Casuistry) One who maintains that a man may do that which has a probability of being right, or which is inculcated by teachers of authority, although other opinions may seem to him still more probable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Probabilities [ L. probabilitas: cf. F. probabilité. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Probability is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas, by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is or appears probable; anything that has the appearance of reality or truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of probabilities. Buckminster. [ 1913 Webster ]

We do not call for evidence till antecedent probabilities fail. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Likeliness; credibleness; likelihood; chance. [ 1913 Webster ]