Where does “disproof” come from?
Disproof comes from Middle English dis- combined with proof, tracing back through Latin dis- (meaning apart) and Latin probus (meaning honest or worthy), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁.
disproof (English): A refutation
Definitions
- A refutation
Ancestry of “disproof”, step by step
disproof traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Dis
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Dis | Hades |
| 2 | English | disrespect | A lack of respect, esteem or courteous behaviour;... |
| 3 | English | respect | an attitude of consideration or high regard; good... |
| 4 | Middle English | respect | — |
| 5 | Old French | respect | — |
| 6 | Latin | respectus | respected; looking back; regard, consideration,... |
| 7 | Latin | respiciō | to look behind, look back at or upon, look to, look around |
| 8 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 9 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 10 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 15 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English proof
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | proof | An effort, process, or operation designed to... |
| 2 | Middle English | proof | — |
| 3 | Old French | prove | — |
| 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 | bhu- | to be |
| 10 | Proto-Bantu | bʊ̀- | Class 14 noun prefix |