Where does “proof” come from?
Proof comes from Middle English proof, from Old French prove, from Late Latin proba, from Latin probare meaning "to assay or test," derived from Latin probus meaning "good or honest," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots per- and bʰuH-.
proof (English): An effort, process, or operation designed to...
Definitions
- An effort, process, or operation designed to...
Ancestry of “proof”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | proof | — |
| 2 | Old French | prove | — |
| 3 | Latin | proba | test, trial; proof, evidence |
| 4 | Latin | probāre | — |
| 5 | Latin | probō | to approve, permit, commend |
| 6 | Latin | Probus | good, serviceable, excellent, superior, able |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pro-bhwo- | being in front, prominent |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |