Word of the Day

verisimilitude \ver-uh-si-MIL-i-tood, -tyood\,
noun:
1. the appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood; probability: The play lacked verisimilitude.
2. something, as an assertion, having merely the appearance of truth.

The intention of the unities is to enhance the verisimilitude of dramatic works by making the time the spectator is watching the performance coincide with the time in which the entire action takes place (unity of time)...
-- Federica Brunori Deigan, "Alessandro Manzoni's The Count of Carmagnola and Adelchis,' 2004

Todorov argues most persuasively that verisimilitude is not to be confused with truth in narrative, and indeed truth is dispensable while verisimilitude is not.
-- Terry J. Peavler, "Individuations," 1987

Verisimilitude comes from the Latin roots vērum + similis literally meaning "likeness to truth."

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