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probablement

Etymology and origin of the French word probablement

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1370–1372, Oresme, Éthiques
Ultimate origin
Latin (probus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pʁɔ.ba.blə.mɑ̃/[1]

Forms

probablement[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French probable + -ment.[2][1][3] probable (1285, ⟨proubable⟩) is borrowed from Latin probābilis (“plausible; commendable”), from probō (“to test; to make credible; to approve”), itself from probus (“upright”).[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Oresme's translation of Aristotle's Ethics (1370–1372) contrasts what can be known with certainty, as in mathematics, with what can be said tant seulement probablement et vraysemblablement, “only probably and plausibly”.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The adverb follows the modern sense of probable, which developed from the end of the 14th century in learned language, of an opinion with an appearance of truth;[4] Pascal's Provinciales (1656) discuss the opinion probable of the casuists.[2][4] Probablement que (“it is likely that”) is recorded by Féraud in 1788,[6] and familiar French also uses probable alone as an adverb.[7]

Timeline

  • 1285 – The adjective proubable.[4]
  • 1370–1372 – Probablement in Oresme.[2]
  • 1694 – Recorded by the Académie.[2]
  • 1788 – Probablement que, in Féraud.[6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Probably, in all likelihood: Viendra-t-il ? – Probablement.[7][1]
  2. Probablement que (with indicative): it is likely that.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Probablement.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/probablement. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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