Verisimilitude

Definition

The quality of appearing to be true or real; the semblance of truth or authenticity, even if factually uncertain. Often used to describe convincing fictional narratives or lifelike representations.

Example Usage

The novelist's attention to historical detail lent verisimilitude to her fantastical story.

Origin

From Latin 'verisimilis,' meaning 'true-like' (verus 'true' + similis 'like').

Fun Fact

The word is famously used in formal literary criticism but rarely in everyday conversation, making it a marker of sophisticated vocabulary.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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