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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



23 words match “PLAUSIBLE”

PLAUSIBLE a. 3 definitions
Obtaining approbation; specifically pleasing; apparently right; specious; as, a plausible pretext; plausible manners; a plausible delusion. "Plausible and popular arguments." Clarendon.
PLAUSIBLEIZE v.
To render plausible. [R.]
PLAUSIBLENESS n.
Quality of being plausible.
IMPLAUSIBLE a.
Not plausible; not wearing the appearance of truth or credibility, and not likely to be believed. "Implausible harangues." Swift. -- Im*plau"si*ble*ness, n. -- Im*plau"si*bly, adv.
COLOR v.
nce to; usually, to give a specious appearance to; to cause to appear attractive; to make plausible; to palliate or excuse; as, the facts were colored by his prejudices. He colors the falsehood of Æneas by an express command from Jupiter to forsake the queen. Dryden.
COLORABLE a.
Specious; plausible; having an appearance of right or justice. "Colorable pretense for infidility." Bp. Stillingfleet. -- Col"or*a*ble*ness, n. -- Col"or*a*bly, adv. Colorable and subtle crimes, that seldom are taken within the walk of human justice. Hooker.
COLORED a.
Specious; plausible; aborned so as to appear well; as, a highly colored description. Sir G. C. Lewis. His colored crime with craft to cloke. Spenser.
FAIR-SPOKEN a.
Using fair speech, or uttered with fairness; bland; civil; courteous; plausible. "A marvelous fair-spoken man." Hooker.
GLOSS v.
To give a specious appearance to; to render specious and plausible; to palliate by specious explanation. You have the art to gloss the foulest cause. Philips.
GLOSSY a.
Smooth; specious; plausible; as, glossy deceit.
IMPLAUSIBILITY n.
Want of plausibility; the quality of being implausible.
INSINUATIVE a.
n or into the confidence or affections; having power to gain favor. "Crafty, insinuative, plausible men." Bp. Reynolds.
JUNCTURE n.
s; an exigency. "Extraordinary junctures." Addison. In such a juncture, what can the most plausible and refined philosophy offer Berkeley.
MEALY-MOUTHED a.
Using soft words; plausible; affectedly or timidly delicate of speech; unwilling to tell the truth in plain language. "Mealy-mouthed philanthropies." Tennyson. She was a fool to be mealy-mouthed where nature speaks so plain. L'Estrange. -- Meal"y-mouth`ness, n.
OILY a.
Smoothly subservient; supple; compliant; plausible; insinuating. "This oily rascal." Shak. His oily compliance in all alterations. Fuller. Oily grain (Bot.), the sesame. -- Oily palm, the oil palm.
PLAUSIBILITY n. 2 definitions
The quality of being plausible; speciousness. To give any plausibility to a scheme. De Quincey.
PLAUSIBLY adv.
In a plausible manner.
PLAUSIVE a.
Plausible, specious. [Obs.] Shak.
PRESUMPTION n.
or true, on evidence that is probable but not conclusive. "In contradiction to these very plausible presumptions." De Quincey.
SMOOTH-SPOKEN a.
Speaking smoothly; plausible; flattering; smooth-tongued.
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