VERISIMILITUDE
verisimilitude
(noun) the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
verisimilitude (countable and uncountable, plural verisimilitudes)
The property of seeming true, of resembling reality; resemblance to reality, realism.
A statement which merely appears to be true.
(fiction) Faithfulness to its own rules; internal cohesion.
Source: Wiktionary
Ver`i*si*mil"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. verisimilitudo: cf. OF.
verisimilitude. See Verisimilar.]
Definition: The quality or state of being verisimilar; the appearance of
truth; probability; likelihood.
Verisimilitude and opinion are an easy purchase; but true knowledge
is dear and difficult. Glanvill.
All that gives verisimilitude to a narrative. Sir. W. Scott.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition