[like.ly] adj like.li.er ; -est [ME, fr. ON glikligr, fr. glikr like; akin to OE gelic] (14c) 1: having a high probability of occurring or being true: very probable "rain is ~ today"
2: apparently qualified: suitable "a ~ place"
3: reliable, credible "a ~ enough story"
4: promising "a ~ candidate"
5: attractive "a ~ child"
[2]likely adv (14c): in all probability: probably "those who seek power will most ~ wind up exercising it --Halton Arp"