English
likelihood
Likelihood comes from Middle English liklihode.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500liklihode
- Englishearliest quotation 1614likelihood
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500liklihode
- Englishearliest quotation 1614likelihood
Earliest quotation: 1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh]: “There is no likelihood between pure light and black…”
Every English word from Middle English liklihode
Today it means
noun The probability of a specified outcome; the chance of something happening; probability; the state or degree of being probable.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English liklihode / likelihood