Where does “actor-proof” come from?

actor-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.

actor-proof (English): Of a play or a dramatic part: sufficiently good that it should be able to succeed even with an inferior cast

Definitions

  1. Of a play or a dramatic part: sufficiently good that it should be able to succeed even with an inferior cast

Ancestry of “actor-proof”, step by step

actor-proof traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English proof

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishproofAn effort, process, or operation designed to...
2Middle Englishproof
3Old Frenchprove
4Latinprobatest, trial; proof, evidence
5Latinprobāre
6Latinprobōto approve, permit, commend
7LatinProbusgood, serviceable, excellent, superior, able
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

via English actor

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishactorA person who performs in a theatrical play or...
2Frenchacteuractor
3Middle Frenchacteur
4Latināctordoer, agent
5Latināctusmade, done, having been done
6Latinagōto act, to behave
7Proto-Italicagōdrive; push, impel; do, act
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós