Where does “prove” come from?
prove (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch prove, from Middle French preuve, from Old French prueve, from Latin proba, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.
prove (Dutch): A gift out of love; A life-long maintenance
Definitions
- A gift out of love; A life-long maintenance
Ancestry of “prove”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | prove | — |
| 2 | Middle French | preuve | — |
| 3 | Old French | prueve | proof |
| 4 | Latin | proba | test, trial; proof, evidence |
| 5 | Latin | probāre | — |
| 6 | Latin | probō | to approve, permit, commend |
| 7 | Latin | Probus | good, serviceable, excellent, superior, able |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro-bhwo- | being in front, prominent |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |