prove
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology 1
From Middle English proven, from Old English prōfian (“to esteem, regard as, evince, try, prove”), from Late Latin probō (“test, try, examine, approve, show to be good or fit, prove”, v), from probus (“good, worthy, excellent”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bhwo- (“being in front, prominent”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-, *per- (“toward”) + Proto-Indo-European *bhu- (“to be”). Influenced by Old French prover, from the same Latin source. Displaced native Middle English sothen (“to prove”), from Old English sōþian (“to prove”). More at for, be.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Verb
prove (third-person singular simple present proves, present participle proving, simple past proved, past participle proved or proven)
- (transitive) To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for.
- I will prove my method is more effective than yours.
- The hypothesis has not been proven to our satisfaction.
- 1749, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure Part 3
- Mr. H . . ., whom no distinctions of that sort seemed to disturb, scarce gave himself or me breathing time from the last encounter, but, as if he had task'd himself to prove that the appearances of his vigour were not signs hung out in vain, in a few minutes he was in a condition for renewing the onset
- (intransitive) To turn out; to manifest.
- It proved to be a cold day.
- (copulative) To turn out to be.
- Have an exit strategy should your calculations prove incorrect.
- (transitive) To (put to the) test, proof
- (archaic) To experience
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
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[edit] Etymology 2
Simple past form of proove, conjugated in the Germanic strong declension, on the pattern of choose → chose.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Verb
prove
- Simple past of proove.
[edit] Statistics
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Most common English words before 1923: working · breath · camp · #990: prove · engaged · America · servant
[edit] External links
- prove in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- prove in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Noun
prove ? (plural proven, diminutive provetje)
- A gift out of love
- A life-long maintenance
[edit] Italian
[edit] Noun
prove f.
- Plural form of prova.
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Portuguese
[edit] Verb
prove
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Late Latin
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English verbs
- English copulative verbs
- English archaic terms
- English simple past forms
- English irregular verbs
- Dutch nouns
- Italian plurals
- Portuguese verb forms
- Portuguese forms of verbs ending in -ar
- Portuguese verb subjunctive forms
- Portuguese verb first-person forms
- Portuguese verb singular forms
- Portuguese verb present forms
- Portuguese verb third-person forms
- Portuguese verb imperative forms
- Portuguese verb affirmative forms
- Portuguese verb negative forms
