Where does “sermon-proof” come from?

sermon-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.

sermon-proof (English): Resistant to the lessons in morality conveyed by sermons; unregenerate

Definitions

  1. Resistant to the lessons in morality conveyed by sermons; unregenerate

Ancestry of “sermon-proof”, step by step

sermon-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 sermon

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsermonReligious discourse; a written or spoken address...
2Middle EnglishsermounA talk or speech by one person; A sermon; a...
3Old Frenchsermonsermon (religious)
4Latinsermōa conversation, discussion
5Proto-Indo-Europeansermō
6Proto-Indo-Europeansēr-to flow
7Proto-Indo-Europeanser-to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European por-