Where does “dummy-proof” come from?
dummy-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.
dummy-proof (English): Incapable of being misused even by the stupidest or most careless of users
Definitions
- Incapable of being misused even by the stupidest or most careless of users
Ancestry of “dummy-proof”, step by step
dummy-proof traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
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 | 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 |
via English dummy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | dummy | A silent person; a person who does not talk; An... |
| 2 | English | dumb | Unable to speak; lacking power of speech; Silent;... |
| 3 | English | damn | To condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare... |
| 4 | Middle English | dampnen | to damn |
| 5 | Old French | dampner | to damn |
| 6 | Latin | damnō | to discredit, find fault, disapprove, reject |
| 7 | Latin | damnum | damage or injury; loss; a fine |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | dapnom | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dh₂pnóm | expense, investment |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂p- | to sacrifice; to lose |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂- | to share, divide |