Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-proof” come from?

-proof (English) comes from English proof, from Middle English proof, from Old French prove, from Latin proba, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.

-proof (English): Used to form adjectives denoting an impervious or...

Definitions

  1. Used to form adjectives denoting an impervious or...

Ancestry of “-proof”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishproofAn effort, process, or operation designed to...
2Middle Englishproof—
3Old Frenchprove—
4Latinprobatest, trial; proof, evidence
5Latinprobāre—
6Latinprobō—
7LatinProbus—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “-proof”

  • waterproof
  • fireproof
  • foolproof
  • bulletproof
  • soundproof
  • ovenproof
  • weatherproof
  • heatproof
  • bombproof
  • greaseproof
  • childproof
  • windproof
  • shatterproof
  • flameproof
  • rainproof
  • leakproof
  • weatherproofing
  • tamperproof
  • lightproof
  • rustproof
  • dustproof
  • shockproof
  • frostproof
  • burglarproof
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →