Where does “reprove” come from?
Reprove comes from Old French reprover, formed from the prefix re- and prover, which derives from Latin probare meaning to assent to or approve, from probus meaning good or honest.
reprove (English): to express disapproval; to criticise, rebuke or...
Definitions
- to express disapproval; to criticise, rebuke or...
Ancestry of “reprove”, step by step
reprove traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English re
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | re | About, regarding, with reference to; especially... |
| 2 | English | reinsurance | Insurance purchased by insurance companies that... |
| 3 | English | re- | again, anew; a completive or intensification of... |
| 4 | Middle English | re- | — |
| 5 | Old French | re- | re- again; once more |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English prove
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | prove | To demonstrate that something is true or viable;... |
| 2 | Middle English | proven | — |
| 3 | Old French | prover | to prove |
| 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 | bhu- | to be |
| 9 | Proto-Bantu | bʊ̀- | Class 14 noun prefix |