Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LIKE'LI-HOOD, n. [likely and hood.]

1. Probability; verisimilitude; appearance of truth or reality. There is little likelihood that an habitual drunkard will become temperate. There is little likelihood that an old offender will be reformed. Prudence directs us not to undertake a design, when there is little or no likelihood of success.
2. Appearance; show; resemblance. [Obs.] – Shak.