a. Also 7 very-, 9 veri-similar. [f. L. vērisimilis, vērī similis (see VERISIMILITUDE), after SIMILAR a. Cf. It. verisimile, Sp. verosimil, Pg. veri-, verosimil.] Having the appearance or semblance of truth or reality; appearing true or real; probable.
In early use rare. Frequent since c. 1845, app. after Carlyle, who used it freely.
1681. Ess. Peace & Truth Ch., 2. As the Opposition to Truth is either from a downright Lie; or a verisimilar Semblance.
1682. Dryden, Dk. Guise, Dram. Wks. 1725, V. 334. Now I am to perform all this it seems, without making any Thing verisimilar or agreeable.
1683. T. Hunt, Def. Charter Lond., 29. Our Poet hath not so much art left him as to frame any thing agreeable or very-similar to amuse the People or wherewith to deceive them.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.).
1827. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 39. Are these dramas of his not verisimilar only but true?
1846. G. S. Faber, Lett. Tractar. Secess., 3. Since I judge the doctrines of Rome to be more rational and verisimilar than any other doctrines whatever.
1887. Lowell, Democracy, etc., 165. But ‘Don Quixote,’ if less verisimilar as a narrative,… appeals to far higher qualities of the mind.
Hence Verisimilarly adv.
1833. Carlyle, in Froude, Life (1882), II. xiv. 338. Wordsworth … [was] represented verisimilarly enough as a man full of English prejudices, idle [etc.].
