Plausibles

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

  1. Capable of appearing truthful or reasonable; having the quality of seeming credible or believable; fitting expectations or likely to be accepted as true
  2. Exhibiting characteristics that suggest believability or reasonableness; seeming acceptable based on evidence or logic; having a credible or convincing nature
  3. Possessing an appearance of justification or rationality; likely to be regarded as truthful or believable; corresponding with what seems likely or convincing

Etymology: The adjective in question traces its roots to the Latin word "plausibilis," which means "deserving applause" or "credible." This Latin term itself derives from "plaudere," meaning "to applaud" or "to strike," reflecting an original sense of something worthy of approval or praise. Over time, the sense shifted from the literal act of applause to a more abstract idea of something appearing worthy or credible, thus laying the foundation for the modern meaning of "believable" or "reasonable." The transition into English occurred in the late Middle Ages, with "plausible" entering the language around the 15th century. It was borrowed from Old French "plausible," which maintained the sense of something worthy of approval or acceptance. Initially, the word often carried a positive connotation, suggesting that a statement or argument deserved applause because it was convincing or well-supported. However, by the 17th century, a subtle shift took place. The word began to be used more cautiously, sometimes implying that something seemed credible but might not be genuinely true. This nuanced meaning—of something appearing reasonable but potentially deceptive or superficial—has persisted, adding complexity to the term's use in English. The plural form simply follows the standard English pattern of adding -s to adjectives used substantively or in certain syntactic positions. While "plausible" is primarily an adjective, "plausibles" might appear in contexts discussing multiple plausible scenarios, explanations, or ideas. The story of this word is a journey from applause-worthy to simply appearing worthy, reflecting how language often balances between genuine approval and mere appearance.

Synonyms: credible, believable, reasonable, likely, probable

Antonyms: implausible, unlikely, improbable, incredible, unbelievable