The Collaborative International Dictionary
Probable \Prob"a*ble\, a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See Prove, and cf. Provable.]
Capable of being proved. [Obs.]
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Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely.
That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it.
--South.I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain.
--Bp. Wilkins. -
Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption.
--Blackstone.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.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context US law English) The standard by which a police officer may make an arrest or conduct a personal or property search. 2 In accident investigations, the conclusions reached by the investigating body as to the factor or factors which caused the accident.
WordNet
n. (law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and seizure; "a magistrate determined that there was probable cause to search the house"
Wikipedia
In United States criminal law, probable cause is the standard by which police authorities have reason to obtain a warrant for the arrest of a suspected criminal. The standard also applies to personal or property searches.
Probable cause, in conjunction with a preponderance of the evidence, also refers to the standard by which a grand jury believes that a crime has been committed. The term comes from the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution:
"Probable" in this case may relate to statistical probability or to a general standard of common behavior and customs. The context of the word "probable" here is not exclusive to community standards and does not predate statistics, as some have suggested.
Usage examples of "probable cause".
Court that the search warrant was not issued upon probable cause, as is required by the Fourth Amendment, in that the basis of the information was not explained to the magistrate who issued the warrant.