'Probable error' definitions:

Definition of 'Probable error'

From: GCIDE
  • Probable \Prob"a*ble\, a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See Prove, and cf. Provable.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. Capable of being proved. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely. [1913 Webster]
  • That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain. --Bp. Wilkins. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
  • Probable cause (Law), a reasonable ground of presumption that a charge is, or my be, well founded.
  • Probable error (of an observation, or of the mean of a number), that within which, taken positively and negatively, there is an even chance that the real error shall lie. Thus, if 3[sec] is the probable error in a given case, the chances that the real error is greater than 3[sec] are equal to the chances that it is less. The probable error is computed from the observations made, and is used to express their degree of accuracy.
  • The probable, that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Probable error'

From: GCIDE
  • Error \Er"ror\, n. [OF. error, errur, F. erreur, L. error, fr. errare to err. See Err.]
  • 1. A wandering; a roving or irregular course. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • The rest of his journey, his error by sea. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A wandering or deviation from the right course or standard; irregularity; mistake; inaccuracy; something made wrong or left wrong; as, an error in writing or in printing; a clerical error. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A departing or deviation from the truth; falsity; false notion; wrong opinion; mistake; misapprehension. [1913 Webster]
  • His judgment was often in error, though his candor remained unimpaired. --Bancroft. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A moral offense; violation of duty; a sin or transgression; iniquity; fault. --Ps. xix. 12. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Math.) The difference between the approximate result and the true result; -- used particularly in the rule of double position. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Mensuration) (a) The difference between an observed value and the true value of a quantity. (b) The difference between the observed value of a quantity and that which is taken or computed to be the true value; -- sometimes called residual error. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Law.) A mistake in the proceedings of a court of record in matters of law or of fact. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Baseball) A fault of a player of the side in the field which results in failure to put out a player on the other side, or gives him an unearned base. [1913 Webster]
  • Law of error, or Law of frequency of error (Mensuration), the law which expresses the relation between the magnitude of an error and the frequency with which that error will be committed in making a large number of careful measurements of a quantity.
  • Probable error. (Mensuration) See under Probable.
  • Writ of error (Law), an original writ, which lies after judgment in an action at law, in a court of record, to correct some alleged error in the proceedings, or in the judgment of the court. --Bouvier. Burrill.
  • Syn: Mistake; fault; blunder; failure; fallacy; delusion; hallucination; sin. See Blunder. [1913 Webster]