verisimilitude
[ver-uh-si-mil-i-tood, -tyood]
- the appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood; probability: The play lacked verisimilitude.
- something, as an assertion, having merely the appearance of truth.
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Origin of verisimilitude
1595–1605; < Latin vērīsimilitūdō, equivalent to vērī (genitive singular of vērum truth) + similitūdō similitude
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
plausibility, realism, semblance, likeness, similarity, color, credibility, show, genuineness, resemblance, likelinessExamples from the Web for verisimilitude
Contemporary Examples
And the conceit of total artifice deprives us of what Tolstoy is best at: marrying artifice with verisimilitude.
Historical Examples
His account of the origin of the sexes has the greatest (comic) probability and verisimilitude.
SymposiumPlato
Now as to the verisimilitude, the miraculousness, and the fact, of this medicinal oil.
Apologia Pro Vita SuaJohn Henry Cardinal Newman
For the sake of verisimilitude he laid the scene in his own barracks.
But we have not yet done with the points of verisimilitude in our story.
The Discovery of America Vol. 1 (of 2)John Fiske.
Besides it will go far to assist the verisimilitude of your travels.
Olla PodridaFrederick Marryat (AKA Captain Marryat)
verisimilitude
- the appearance or semblance of truth or reality; quality of seeming true
- something that merely seems to be true or real, such as a doubtful statement
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Word Origin
C17: from Latin vērisimilitūdō, from vērus true + similitūdō similitude
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for verisimilitude
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper