Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unproven” come from?

Unproven comes from English prove, which derives from Latin probare meaning to test or approve, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ano- meaning one or single.

unproven (English): Not proved

Definitions

  1. Not proved

Ancestry of “unproven”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprovenHaving been proved; having proved its value or...
2EnglishpreveAlternative form of prove
3EnglishproveTo demonstrate that something is true or viable;...
4Middle Englishproven—
5Old Frenchproverto prove
6Latinprobāre—
7Latinprobō—
8LatinProbus—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
12Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “unproven”

  • unprovenly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →