vraisemblance

/ ˌvreɪsɒmˈblɒns; vrɛsɑ̃blɑ̃s /

noun

1. verisimilitude; appearance of truth

Word History and Origins

Origin of vraisemblance¹

French, from vrai true + semblance

Example Sentences

Mr. Radcliffe and Horace Walpole are relegated to the land of dreams and shadows; give us vraisemblance to whet our blunted susceptibilities.

From Project Gutenberg

Mais quand on se represente que l’Enfant a vecu près de quatre-vingts ans, & qu’il a composé quatre-vingts Ouvrages differents tous fruits d’une longue lecture—il faut convenir que tout ce qui est incroyable n’est pas toujours faux, & que la Vraisemblance n’est pas toujours du côté de la Verité.

From Project Gutenberg

A whale would have needed preparation, and the statement has an air of vraisemblance.

From Project Gutenberg

But there was just so much truth in the version, garbled as it was, just so much vraisemblance in the tale that even those who knew the facts, could not wholly contradict it.

From Project Gutenberg

Without assigning precedence to any one over the other, a preference may be indicated for these five, as combining the most varied elements of interest with the best execution—Aulularia, Captivi, Menaechmi, Pseudolus, Rudens; and for these, as second to the former in interest owing to some inferiority in comic power, artistic execution, or natural vraisemblance, or owing to some element in them which offends the taste or moral sentiment—Trinummus, Mostellaria, Miles Gloriosus, Bacchides, Amphitruo.

From Project Gutenberg