provev.

Brit.

/pruːv/, U.S.

/pruv/

Inflections: Past participle proved, proven;

Forms: 1.

α. early Middle English pruuie (south-west midlands), Middle English iproved (past tense), Middle English prof, Middle English proffe, Middle English proof, Middle English proufe, Middle English proui (southern), Middle English prouie (southern), Middle English prouue, Middle English prouy (southern), Middle English provee (southern), Middle English prow, Middle English prowe, Middle English prueth (3rd singular present indicative, probably transmission error), Middle English prufe (northern), Middle English pruue, Middle English pruve (chiefly northern), Middle English–1500s profe, Middle English–1500s proufe, Middle English–1600s proue, Middle English–1600s prouve, Middle English– prove, 1500s–1600s prooue, 1500s–1600s proove, 1600s proov, 1600s–1800s provd (past tense); English regional (north-western) 1700s–1800s pruive, 1800s– priuve; Scottish pre-1700 profe, pre-1700 proffe, pre-1700 proif, pre-1700 proife, pre-1700 proof, pre-1700 prooue, pre-1700 proove, pre-1700 proue, pre-1700 prouue, pre-1700 prouve, pre-1700 prov, pre-1700 prow, pre-1700 prowe, pre-1700 pruf, pre-1700 prufe, pre-1700 pruff, pre-1700 pruffe, pre-1700 pruif, pre-1700 pruife, pre-1700 pruiff, pre-1700 pruiffe, pre-1700 pruwe, pre-1700 prwif, pre-1700 prwiff, pre-1700 1700s– prove, pre-1700 1800s– pruive, pre-1700 1800s– pruve, 1800s pruv (Shetland); N.E.D. (1909) also records a form early Middle English yproue. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 93 Proue ech man him seluen.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 12300 Com to morn & proue [a1450 Lamb. prof] þi day.c1410 tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 99 He perceyved and i-proved þe deceyvynge [L. dolo] of Edrik.1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 181^v Alexander in prouvyng maisteries would not bee matched but with kynges.1599 G. Chapman Humerous Dayes Myrth sig. C3^v You are come to tempt and prooue at full the spirit of my wife.1609 in Lett. Eccl. Affairs Scotl. (1851) I. 185 That this tempest wil not continew, and that it wil pruif but a gowk storm.1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1235 Experience can prove.1652 T. Gataker Antinomianism 13 Such..arguments proov nothing.a1743 J. Relph St. Agnes Fast in Misc. of Poems (1747) 25 Sud cruel Roger pruive sae cruel still, I mun not like a fuil gang fast aw day, And kest mysell just wittenly away.1898 ‘Junda’ Echoes from Klingrahool 52 Hit aa wis needet, every scaar, Hit taks da stoarm ta pruv da faar.1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows v. 77 At the same time he avoided trying to prove too much, and admitted that to be a Christian was an act of faith.

β. Middle English ipreoues (west midlands, 3rd singular present indicative), Middle English preef, Middle English pref, Middle English prefe, Middle English preff, Middle English preooui (south-west midlands), Middle English preoue (west midlands and south-western), Middle English preoui (south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English preouy (south-western), Middle English preove (south-western), Middle English prewe, Middle English preyf, Middle English proef, Middle English proeue, Middle English proeve, Middle English pruefe, Middle English pryue, Middle English–1500s preeve, Middle English–1500s preue, Middle English–1500s prieve, Middle English–1500s pryve, Middle English–1500s 1700s preve, Middle English–1600s preeue, 1500s preaue, 1500s prooeyve, 1600s prive; English regional (northern) 1800s preave, 1800s– preeave (Yorkshire); Scottish pre-1700 pref, pre-1700 prefe, pre-1700 preff, pre-1700 preffe, pre-1700 preif, pre-1700 preife, pre-1700 preiff, pre-1700 preiue, pre-1700 preiv, pre-1700 preiw, pre-1700 preiwe, pre-1700 preue, pre-1700 preuef, pre-1700 preuve, pre-1700 prev, pre-1700 preve, pre-1700 prew, pre-1700 prewe, pre-1700 preyf, pre-1700 preyff, pre-1700 prief, pre-1700 priue, pre-1700 1700s–1800s prive, pre-1700 1700s– prieve, pre-1700 1800s preive, pre-1700 1800s– preeve; N.E.D. (1909) also records a form late Middle English preiue; see also pree v.c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 10 Ha lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen, & euch an bereð a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten..forte binden & to drahen into inwarde helle hwuch se he mei preoouin [Royal preouin] þurh his boc þet is on euch sunne enbreuet. ▸ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 126 The feith of holi cherche..upon believe Stant more than thei conne prieve.c1395 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 2238 Thexperience so preueth euery day The treson whiche that womman dooth to man.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 5374 Wele ys him has hap to prefe.c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xii. 39 And putteþ forþ presompcions to preouen þe sothe.?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. v. pr. iii. 29 I ne proeve nat thilke same resoun. ▸ 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 412 Prevyn, or provyn.a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 14 Fire preueþ golde. ▸ ?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 728 in Poems (1981) 31 Or heid, or feit, or paynchis let me preif.1576 in F. J. Furnivall Gild of St. Mary, Lichfield (1920) 27 Prooeyvinge the saide supplycacion.a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 12 Nane be so pert to prewe..Of thair awin blude to mak ane king agane.c1600 in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 186 Priests, prief you men.1634 Noble Souldier i. sig. B4^v I vow tomorrow..with all Ceremonies Due to the Church, to seale our nuptials, To prive thy sonne with full consent of State, Spaines heire Apparant, borne in wedlocke Vowes.1723 A. Ramsay Nuptials 19 Skink 't up and let us prive.1789 D. Sillar Poems 67 For ever sin' the serpent, Eve Did cry the cursed fruit to prieve.1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 657 Red wine and weel spiced cake? Ye'll no preive the samen at a lady's, let alane at a witch's lyke-wake.1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 5 We hated da sooen gruel—we hardly preeved it ava.

2. Past participle a.

α. Middle English iproued, Middle English iprouede, Middle English iproved, Middle English iprowid, Middle English ipruuet, Middle English profite, Middle English prouyt, Middle English provede, Middle English provid, Middle English provide, Middle English provyd, Middle English prowed, Middle English prowede, Middle English prowid, Middle English prowyd, Middle English pruyd (probably transmission error), Middle English yproued, Middle English yproved, Middle English yprovid, Middle English yprowed, Middle English yprowide, Middle English–1500s prouid, Middle English–1500s prouyd, Middle English–1600s proued, Middle English– proved, 1500s yprovyde, 1500s–1600s prooved, 1500s–1800s provd, 1500s–1800s prov'd; also Scottish pre-1700 proffit, pre-1700 profyt, pre-1700 provit, pre-1700 provyd, pre-1700 provyt, pre-1700 prowit, pre-1700 prowyd, pre-1700 prowyde, pre-1700 prowyt, pre-1700 pruffit, pre-1700 prufit, pre-1700 prufyt, pre-1700 pruit (probably transmission error), pre-1700 prute (probably transmission error), pre-1700 pruvit, pre-1700 prwiffit, 1700s prowed, 1800s pruv't, 1900s– pruived, 1900s– pruve't. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 138 Hwenne ha is ipreoued [c1230 Corpus ipruuet; a1250 Titus ipreouet] wel is hit iseit. for alswa preoueð [c1230 Corpus pruueð; a1250 Titus ipreoues] god hise leoue icorene.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9373 Þis noblemen..Þat in armes iproued beþ.1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 4 Any thyng agayne þe kynge's pease þat myght be proved apon hym lawfully.1472 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 23 It may be prowyd.1473 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 467 Neuerthelesse, plese yow to weet þat I have provyd my fadres wyll and testement.a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) 218 Here is I-prowid that the sowle sueth the condycionys of the bodyes.1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 41 The holy crosse was provyd by resyng of a Dede man.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11665 As prouit is of old.1584–9 J. Maxwall Commonplace Bk. f. 29^v Excepe in tyme he be weill prwiffit Or thingis owtfall.a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 363 As it mycht weill be prute [rhyme mute].1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion To Rdr. sig. A From any example, either of Ancient, or Modern, that haue proued in this kind.1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 31 The will is to be proved, and administration is to be taken.1872 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. 135 The monster cannon now only requires to be vented and proved.a1902 J. Heughan in Gallovidian (1913) 59 108 The fleysome lion shall be harmless pruve't.2005 Guardian 25 Jan. i. 26/1 Yet 25 years on, this most ascetic of bands have proved surprisingly influential.

β. Middle English epreuyd, Middle English ipreoued (south-west midlands), Middle English ipreouet (west midlands), Middle English ipreoved, Middle English ipreued, Middle English ipreved, Middle English iprevid, Middle English iprevyde, Middle English iproevid, Middle English peruyd (transmission error), Middle English preeued, Middle English preevid, Middle English preued, Middle English preuede, Middle English preuyd, Middle English preuyt, Middle English preved, Middle English previd, Middle English prevyd, Middle English prewyd, Middle English proeved, Middle English pryued, Middle English ypreeued, Middle English ypreoved (south-western), Middle English ypreued, Middle English ypreuede, Middle English ypreuyd; Scottish pre-1700 preffit, pre-1700 prefit, pre-1700 preft, pre-1700 prefyt, pre-1700 preiffit, pre-1700 preifit, pre-1700 preued, pre-1700 preuit, pre-1700 previd, pre-1700 previt, pre-1700 prevyt, pre-1700 prewet, pre-1700 prewit, pre-1700 prewyt. a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 80 Vor hwon heo is ipreoued hit seið heo schal beon i kruned mid te crune of liue.c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 399 Þat is preued and ishewed Boþe to lered and to lewed.a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) VII. 259 Þat ooth was i-preved untrewe.1439 Rolls of Parl. V. 22/1 By the seid Testament yet nought proeved.c1450 Speculum Christiani (Harl. 6580) (1933) 200 Euery wycked man lyues ther-for..that gud men be pryued by hym.c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Kings of Eng. (Harl. 372) in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 716 The Fifte Herry..Riht fortunat, preevid [v.r. prewyd] in pes & werr..Regned x yeer.1492–3 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 294 Becaus of the deforce led and preffit one him in the said schirreffis court.1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Kii That Christ prewit aganis ye saduceis yat ye deid sal stand wp agane.1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour i. sig. D.vi^v Geue thay of that tre had preuit, Perpetuallye thay mycht haue leuit.

α. 1500s prouen, 1600s– proven; Scottish pre-1700 profen, pre-1700 profin, pre-1700 prouen, pre-1700 prouin, pre-1700 proveine, pre-1700 provin, pre-1700 provine, pre-1700 provyn, pre-1700 provyne, pre-1700 prowen, pre-1700 prowene, pre-1700 prowin, pre-1700 prowine, pre-1700 prowyn, pre-1700 prowyne, pre-1700 pruven, pre-1700 pruvyne, pre-1700 1700s– proven, 1900s– pruiven. 1509 in D. Littlejohn Aberd. Sheriff Court (1904) I. 72 To heir and se the saide brekin of lawborrowis provin one Huchon Andirsone.1561 Bible (Geneva) f. 323 This is a iuste rewarde of theyr arrogancie..that thei shulde be prouen fooles.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 349 Bot how that may be profen of the quene, he denyes.1619 Rec. Perth Kirk Session 23 Mar. Sua it lyis ower till it can be prowin.1632 in W. Fraser Sutherland Bk. (1892) II. 158 The Duck of Saxone, quha hes prowen vngraith to his countrie.1633 W. Struther True Happines 8 When a number serveth not necessitie, all are proven to be weak.1730 in D. G. Barron Court Bk. Urie (1892) 140 It cannot be proven that ever there grew so much as twelve bolls of bear upon the said two tacks communibus annis above the seed.1818 R. P. Knight Symbolic Lang. (1876) 175 Some who had proven themselves prolific.1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire II. iv. vi. 368 A verdict of..Not Proven indicates suspicion, but a want of proof of..guilt.1850 W. E. Gladstone Remarks Royal Supremacy 38 Whatever can be proved from his mouth..may be regarded as proven à fortiori.1927 E. O'Neill Marco Millions ii. i. 106 I believe that what can be proven cannot be true.1957 B. Evans & C. Evans Dict. Contemp. Amer. Usage 399/1 The participle proven is respectable literary English. In the United States it is used more often than the form proved. In Great Britain proved is used more often and proven sounds affected to many people.1980 Daily Tel. 18 Mar. 15/3 As yet..chloracne is the only disorder proven to result from human contact with olioxin.

β. Scottish pre-1700 preuen, pre-1700 preven, pre-1700 previn, pre-1700 preving, pre-1700 prevyne, pre-1700 prevyng, pre-1700 prewyne, 1900s– preeven (Aberdeenshire). 1541 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1880) II. 14 For ilk falt beand preving or vnpurgit.1560–7 in W. Macgill Old Ross-shire & Scotl. (1909) I. 14 Ane pairt of my exceptiouns is to be previn be wryte.1575 in D. Balfour Oppress. 16th Cent. Orkney & Zetland (1859) 6 As is notoriously known and sall be preven.1606 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1885) 1st Ser. VII. 182 Whilk man wes previn to be my lord Maxwellis man.1960 People's Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 26 Nov. 8/6 Its preeven richt iss 'ear, bit, min' ye, tho' things are lookin' black.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French prover, prouver.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French prover, pruver, Old French, Middle French prouver (in inflected forms with root-stress preuve- ), (rare) preuver (French prouver ) to show, demonstrate (first half of the 12th cent.), to establish as true (c1130), (used reflexively) to show oneself to be, to turn out to be (c1170), to show oneself to be able (c1170), (of a thing) to be evidence (1197), to be (in a particular condition) (c1285), to prove in court (c1292), to test (end of the 13th cent., apparently originally Anglo-Norman) < classical Latin probāre to test, to examine, to put to the proof, to approve, commend, to authorize, sanction, to prove, demonstrate, in post-classical Latin also to learn by experience, to try, endeavour (Vulgate), to show oneself to be (12th cent. in a British source), to establish the validity of a will (from 1304 in British sources) < probus good (see probity n.). Compare Old Occitan proar (12th cent.), prohar (1296), Catalan provar (12th cent.), Spanish probar (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese provar (13th cent.), Italian provare (a1243); also Middle Dutch proeven (Dutch proeven), Middle Low German prȫven, prōven, prǖven, Middle High German prüeven, prūven (German prüfen), Old Icelandic prófa, Old Swedish prova, pröva (Swedish prova, pröva), Old Danish prøve (15th cent.; Danish prøve; in early modern Danish also prove).With the form history, compare the discussion of the parallel development of move v. The β forms survive in the regional language of northern England and Scotland. With the β forms compare also French preuve proof n. The past participle proven , originally Scots and the usual form in Scottish English, developed from the β forms by analogy with strong verbs like cloven , past participle of cleave v.¹, woven , past participle of weave v.¹ It is at least as common as proved in current North American English. It is also spreading into other varieties of English, in which the highest proportion of occurrences appears to occur in the past and perfect passive. Compare proven adj., proved adj. In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). The (isolated) 3rd singular present indicative form ipreoues is probably by association with the prefixed forms of the past participle, although it could alternatively be interpreted as showing a separate formation in y- prefix. In sense 1g after German prüfen (S. Hahnemann, 1829 or earlier). Classical Latin probāre was earlier borrowed into Old English as a legal term: prōfian to assume to be, take for. Compare the following:eOE Laws of Ine (Corpus Cambr. 173) xx. 98 Gif feorcund mon oððe fremde butan wege geond wudu gonge & ne hrieme ne horn blawe, for ðeof he bið to profianne.

I. To make trial of; to try, test.

a. transitive. To put (a person or thing) to the test; to test or assess the genuineness or qualities of; (Scottish) to test by tasting, to sample. Now rare in general use (but cf. technical uses at senses 1b, 1f, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)]

fandc893

costeneOE

afondOE

provea1200

fraista1300

assay1330

sayc1330

try1362

approvec1380

examinea1382

winnowa1382

tempt1382

tastea1400

assailc1405

essay1484

scryc1615

sensea1688

test1748

trial1981

dogfood1997

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [verb (transitive)]

haveeOE

cuneOE

supOE

yfeeleOE

afondOE

canOE

seeOE

knowc1175

provea1200

feelc1225

passa1325

fraistc1330

wielda1375

wita1450

experiment1484

approve1578

experiencea1586

resent1595

fand-

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] > be proof of

provea1200

showa1325

declarec1400

verifyc1430

givec1449

persuadea1525

arguea1538

demonstrate1572

argue1585

put1596

evidence1611

evident1643

to make out1795

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 93 Proue ech man him seluen, and gif he feleð þat he is wurðe þer to, þenne understonde he þat husel, and drinke of þe calice.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 138 Hwenne ha is ipreoued [c1230 Corpus ipruuet; a1250 Titus ipreouet] wel is hit iseit. for alswa preoueð [c1230 Corpus pruueð; a1250 Titus ipreoues] god hise leoue icorene.

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 3001 (MED) King and erls wiþouten dout Þer gun him anon rebout Forto prouen his maner.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 8115 Þe might o þam þou latt vs proue.

c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 43 How þe fadir taght his son for to prufe his frende.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) John vi. f. cxxvij This he sayde to prove hym. For he hym sylfe knewe what he wolde do.

1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Diiij No flesh nor bone Can preif the honnie we from Pinde distill.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Thess. v. 21 Proue [ Wyclif 1382 prove, a1425 L.V. preue ȝe, Rhem. prooue, Tindale to Geneva examen] all things: hold fast that which is good.

1704 J. Oldmixon Pastoral Poem 25 In vain they prove again the bloody Field.

1789 D. Sillar Poems 67 For ever sin' the serpent, Eve Did cry the cursed fruit to prieve.

1815 W. Wordsworth White Doe of Rylstone iii. 61 Nor did he turn aside to prove His Brothers' wisdom or their love.

1881 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper xxv. 198 He..began to devour him from head to foot with his eyes..stepping briskly around him and about him to prove him from all points of view.

1906 Englewood (Chicago) Times 3 Aug. He would prove the oxen by testing their strength, capacity for work, and tractableness.

1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 5 We hated da sooen gruel—we hardly preeved it ava.

b. transitive. To subject (any natural, prepared, or manufactured substance or object, now esp. a firearm) to a testing process.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] > specifically a substance or object

prove1340

society > armed hostility > military equipment > production and development of arms > produce or develop arms [verb (transitive)] > processes in gun-making > test

prove1788

plate1904

test-fire1947

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 158 (MED) And þereuore zayþ saynt Ion Þet me ne leue naȝt þe gostes ac þet me hise prouy erþan þet me hise onderuonge.

1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 1 Yat metaill..was proved and founden fals.

a1500 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 61 All maner of mesurys..schall be proved in ye sayd cowrte..two tymes in ye ȝhere.

?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) i. xvii. 165 As golde is proued in the fournes.

1584 A. Barlowe in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) iii. 731 Our selues prooued the soile, and put some of our Pease into the ground, and in tenne daies they were of foureteene ynches high.

1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. v. 188 Pyrites aureus (which if torrefy'd..prove all Iron Ores).

1720 D. Manley Power of Love vi. 328 He saw a Gentleman cheapning and proving Swords.

1788 J. May Jrnl. 17 May (1873) (modernized text) 50 This afternoon I proved my rifle-gun.

1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 136 Test for proving Steel. Take weak aqua-fortis, and drop a little on the sampler in question.

1872 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. 135 The monster cannon now only requires to be vented and proved.

1900 G. T. Teasdale-Buckell Experts on Guns & Shooting xxxvi. 536 When a gun has been proved in this way it is to be marked as follows.

1954 R. Wailes Eng. Windmill i. 20 Before dressing, the stones are staffed with a laminated mahogany staff proved on a cast-iron straight edge.

2004 Sporting Gun Mar. 19/1 Both are double barrel hammer guns built around 1882 and proved for black powder only.

†c. intransitive. To make a trial of something, esp. by sampling; to taste. Cf. pree v. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (intransitive)] > test by tasting

provec1390

to taste ofa1400

saya1450

taste1600

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > try experiments or make experiment [verb (intransitive)]

taste1382

provec1390

assayc1394

try1573

to try conclusions1601

to give the adventure1607

experiment1787

experimentalize1800

experimentize1847

dogfood1996

c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 273 (MED) Take al þi flesches fondynge fram þe And lete hit falle on þat hermyte..þat he may of þy fondyng proue.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 3656 Þou bidd him rise þar-of to proue.

a1500 (?a1400) Tale King Edward & Shepherd (Cambr.) (1930) 446 Ȝet shall þou drynk a drauȝt fyne Off gode drynk, as i wene; Off Lanycoll þou shall proue.

1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour i. sig. D.vi^v Geue thay of that tre had preuit, Perpetuallye thay mycht haue leuit.

1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxiv. 55 Some of my Company proved of them, and they caused vomits and purging.

d. transitive. Printing. To test (a plate, type, etc.) by taking a proof; to take a proof impression of. Cf. proof v. 1c. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > printing > manner or style of printing > style of printing [verb (transitive)] > take proof impression

prove1797

proof1884

1797 Encycl. Brit. XV. 590/1 [The engraver] proved a plate in different states, that he might ascertain how far his labours had been successful.

1847 Nat. Encycl. I. 958 The plate is..sent to the printer to prove.

1921 J. Pennell Graphic Arts 205 When you have done this, the next thing is to prove the plate, which you do by putting it on the bed of the press.

1960 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. X. 601/2 If type produced on ‘hot metal’ machines is to be used, the type is set, proved, read, and corrected.

1999 J. N. Moore F. L. Griggs vi. 152 Laneham was studied, etched, bitten, proved, and revised through three states all inside the month of January 1923.

e. transitive. Mathematics. Originally: to establish the correctness of (a mathematical procedure). Also intransitive: to pass such a test of correctness (figurative in quot. 1862). Now rare.In later use usually understood as sense 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > mathematics > calculate or solve [verb (transitive)] > test correctness of

prove1806

the world > relative properties > number > mathematics > mathematize [verb (intransitive)] > calculate or solve mathematical problem

reckon1340

calk1398

workc1400

compute1634

supputate1680

prove1862

1806 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) I. 15 There are three different ways of proving Multiplication.

1806 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) I. 16 Multiplication is also very naturally proved by Division.

1862 Temple Bar 6 542 My friend's moral arithmetic was wrongly squared, and wouldn't prove.

1942 National Math. Mag. Feb. 247 According to the Master, the surest way to prove multiplication is by division.

f. transitive. Mining and Oil Industry. To ascertain the position and extent of (a deposit, seam, well, etc.). Cf. to prove up 2 at Phrasal verbs. Usually in passive.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > mining > mine [verb (transitive)] > examine

prove1839

to prove up1853

1839 R. I. Murchison Silurian Syst. i. viii. 124 The coal has been proved, if not worked out, under every part of it.

1870 Trans. & Proc. N.Z. Inst. 1869 2 368 At Coromandel..the [gold-bearing] lodes have been ‘proved’ to a depth of over 300 feet from the surface.

1883 J. Bradshaw N.Z. as it was & Is xii. 178 In the Coromandel and Thames goldfields, reefs have been ‘proved’ to a depth of over 600 feet below the sea level.

1931 Geogr. Rev. 21 76 24 exploitable seams with a total thickness of 30 to 40 meters of coal have been proved.

1979 T. Williamson Samson Strike i. 7 In spite of his twenty years in the oil business he still felt the elation of proving a new well.

2002 Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent) (Nexis) 27 Nov. 7 These boreholes proved vast coal reserves which due to the economic decline of the mining industry remain untouched.

g. transitive. Homoeopathy. To give (a drug) to healthy people to ascertain its effect.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > pharmacy > practise pharmaceutically [verb (transitive)] > test drug

prove1843

1833 C. H. Devrient tr. Hahnemann Organon of Healing Art 216 Employ those medicines whose pure effects have been proved upon a healthy person in the manner best suited to the cure of diseases homœopathically.]

1843 Brit. Jrnl. Homœopathy 1 160 It is essential that a preparation precisely similar to that proved should be always employed.

1910 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 645/2 To ascertain the curative virtues of any drug it must be ‘proved’ upon healthy persons—that is, taken by healthy individuals of both sexes in a state of health in gradually increasing doses.

1974 Homoeopathy June–July 93 I got Nelsons to potentise fulmar oil, and I wanted it proved, but no one would cooperate.

2003 T. Robson Introd. to Complementary Med. xi. 220 Each constituent of a complex remedy is selected because of the symptoms it exhibits when proved separately.

h. intransitive. Of bread or dough: to become aerated by the fermentation of yeast prior to baking; to rise. Occasionally also of yeast: to cause such aeration.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of bread > prepare bread [verb (intransitive)] > prove

prove1852

1852 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) I. 181/1 The whole of the flour is..left about an hour..to prove.

1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 139 In making a cake, if it rises well, ‘it proves well’. A baker will often say ‘It is good yeast, it proves so well’.

1909 Mrs. Beeton's Cookery Bk. (new ed.) 265/2 Knead well, and leave dry, cover over with a clean cloth, and let it prove for 1½ hours.

1959 Woman 14 Mar. 21/1 Put the dough to rise and prove in a warm but not too hot place.

1999 BBC Good Food July 101/2 Score the dough with a knife—this allows it to relax and prove more quickly.

2. transitive. To find out, learn, or know by experience; to have experience of; to go through, undergo, suffer. Also with complement: to find by experience (a person or thing) to be (something). Cf. approve v.¹ 9. Now rare (archaic in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > undergo or experience

feelOE

seeOE

passa1325

provec1330

attastec1374

wielda1375

tastec1380

sufferc1390

to pass through ——c1400

expert?a1475

traverse1477

experiment1484

savour1509

to taste of1526

to go through ——1535

sustain1575

approve1578

try1578

experience1588

undergo1600

to run through ——1602

pree1806

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 5222 (MED) Mi strengþe is dubled, bi god aboue, & þat ȝe schul ȝete today proue.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 4383 (MED) If i liue þou sal me proue An iuel freind to þi be-houe.

c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 105 Where-by he may..prove þe gret woo þat..lovers haue.

1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. lxxxxiiii^v That thoughe a man had hym delyuered than The same peryll wolde he haue proued agayne.

1588 W. Allen Admon. to Nobility & People 10 Other inconueniences which they had proued, and mighte easely fall againe.

1662 A. Cokayne Trag. Ovid v. ii. 112 in Poems I may prove The like sad destiny Clorina did, Should I become your wife.

1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) ii. xiii They only shall his Mercy prove.

1852 M. Arnold Empedocles on Etna, & Other Poems 180 In the world I learnt, what there Thou too wilt surely one day prove, That will, that energy, though rare, Are yet far, far less rare than love.

1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 59 Preevin Faith's sweet anodyne.

†3.

a. transitive. With infinitive or clause as object. To try, endeavour, attempt, strive (to do something). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > attempt [verb (transitive)]

fandOE

assayc1300

tryc1315

provec1330

adventurea1387

sayc1390

paina1400

havec1400

practisea1450

afforcec1487

afond1488

attempta1538

procure1574

endeavour1581

offer1611

poacha1616

attent1620

to venture at1623

essay1641

attentate1656

smacka1657

tempt1697

to try at1794

to have a go1802

to make a (good, poor, etc.) fist1833

tackle1847

to have or take a whack at1891

to make (or have, etc.) a stab at (something)1895

to have a dash (at)1916

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 2826 (MED) King Lot proued, verrament, Out it to drawe anon riȝt, Ac he no miȝt.

c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) 215 (MED) Euer he proued to don hem schame.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. xv. 26 Macedonye and Achaye proueden [a1425 L.V. assaied; Latin probaverunt] for to make sum collacioun.

c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) 183 (MED) I shall prove with al my myghte To breke there bothe spere and shelde.

a1500 (?a1475) Guy of Warwick (Cambr. Ff.2.38) 285 Ȝyt schall y oonys prove For to wynne þat maydenys loue.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. vj He wyl proue and do the best he can to make the same decree and his questions to accorde.

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 304 I sall preif the morne..To bring Coillis to the Court.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxiii. xix. 487 They within the towne were driven..to plucke off the lether from their shields & bucklers, and make them soft in skalding water, and prove [L. conari] how they could eat them.

a1610 T. Rogers Leycesters Ghost (1641) 14 I did also prove To winne, their handmaids.

b. intransitive. To set oneself to do something; to try, strive, essay. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or set oneself to do [verb (intransitive)]

found12..

to take on (also upon) one(self)a1300

assay1330

study1340

to put (also lay, set, etc.) one's hand to the ploughc1384

intendc1385

pressc1390

to put oneself in pressc1390

gatherc1400

undertakec1405

sayc1425

to fall in hand with (also to do (something))c1450

setc1485

obligea1500

essay?1515

attend1523

supprise1532

to set in foot1542

enterprise1547

address1548

to set in hand1548

prove1612

to make it one's businessa1628

engage1646

embark1647

bend1694

to take hold1868

the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)]

fanda1225

procurea1325

assay1370

workc1384

to put oneself in pressc1390

purchasec1400

buskc1450

study1483

fend15..

try1534

enterprise1547

to make an attempt?c1550

to give the venture1589

prove1612

nixuriate1623

to lay out1659

essay1715

to bring (also carry, drive, etc.) one's pigs to market1771

to have (or take or give) a crack1836

to make an out1843

to go to market1870

to give it a burl1917

to have a bash (at)1950

the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > to do something

cuneOE

seekc1000

fanda1225

suec1325

tastec1330

enforcec1340

study1340

temptc1384

intendc1385

assaila1393

proffera1393

to make meansc1395

search?a1400

fraistc1400

pursuec1400

to go aboutc1405

pretend1482

attempta1513

essay?1515

attend1523

regarda1533

offer1541

frame1545

to stand about1549

to put into (also in) practice1592

prove1612

imitate1626

snap1766

begin1833

make1880

1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion To Rdr. sig. A From any example, either of Ancient, or Modern, that haue proued in this kind.

a1659 F. Osborne Observ. Turks in Wks. (1673) 272 Yet he proved against this inconvenience, with as much caution as a by-past error is capable to admit.

II. To demonstrate, establish.

4. To establish as true; to make certain; to demonstrate the truth of by evidence or argument.In this sense the past participle proven (originally Scottish) is often used. In Scots Law the verdict ‘Not proven’ is admitted, besides ‘Guilty’ and ‘Not guilty’, in criminal trials.

a. transitive. With subordinate clause, or object and complement.

ΚΠ

c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 330 (MED) Ha is an hundret degrez ihehet towart heouene hwil ha meiðhad halt, as þe frut preoued [a1250 Titus preoueð].

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 56 Þet þe witnesse ne pruuie [a1250 Nero preoue] ham for ualse.

c1300 St. Katherine (Laud) 98 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 95 I-chulle proui þat he ne miȝte a-liue beo.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 259 Þat ooth was i-preved untrewe.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 5385 That he not loveth, his dede proveth.

a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 218 (MED) Here is I-prowid that the sowle sueth the condycionys of the bodyes.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cj^v He went about also to proue hym selfe a Germayne.

1608 S. Hieron 2nd Pt. Def. Ministers Reasons 210 To prove that the devil could not foretell things contingently to come.

1645 J. Winthrop Declar. Former Passages 4 The Narrowganset Deputies did not alledge; much lesse prove, that any ransom was agreed.

1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. Introd. 2 I shall take up no Time in proving this Matter to be a Duty.

1798 Philos. Mag. 2 2 He quotes a variety of observations made on these phenomena; from which he endeavours to prove that they do not arise from an accumulation of the matter of the aurora borealis.

1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) xii. 128 The account book would be..open to the inspection of all who could prove themselves to belong to the Union.

1885 Law Times Rep. 53 60/2 The plaintiff and the surveyor proved that the I.C.U. carried proper lights.

1931 C. Kelly U.S. Postal Policy iv. 81 How little he understood the will of the American people is proven by their unyielding demand for this service.

1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four i. iv. 42 In no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done, to prove that any falsification had taken place.

1991 Gay Times Mar. 7/1 They never proved that I had engaged in homosexual activities but they eventually threw me out of the Royal Navy, simply because I was gay.

b. transitive. With simple object.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > prosper or be successful

speed993

achievec1300

provec1300

edifya1400

chevise14..

exploit1477

cottonc1560

fadge1611

through1675

to make the riffle1853

arrive1889

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)]

speedc1175

fayc1300

provec1300

flourishc1400

passc1425

prosper1434

succeedc1450

to take placea1464

to come well to (our) pass1481

shift?1533

hitc1540

walka1556

fadge1573

thrive1587

work1599

to come (good) speedc1600

to go off1608

sort1613

go1699

answer1721

to get along1768

to turn up trumps1785

to come off1854

pan1865

scour1871

arrive1889

to work out1899

to ring the bell1900

to go over1907

click1916

happen1949

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (intransitive)] > be proved to be

provec1300

verifya1387

approve1587

improve1612

bear1710

to turn up1756

to turn out1780

wash1849

c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 1008 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 135 He..hath i-broke is oth, And þat man wel proui on him.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 345 As it fil afterward þe soþe was i-preoved.

1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 4 Any thyng agayne þe kynge's pease þat myght be proved apon hym lawfully.

c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame 807 Whoso seyth of trouthe I varye, Bid hym proven the contrarye.

1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Hvj^v An example, is a manner of Argumentation, where one thyng is proued by an other.

1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 33 If they should be forced to proove descent.

1681 J. Flavell Method of Grace ix. 186 A thousand witnesses cannot prove any point more clearly than one testimony of conscience doth.

1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. i. 143 Our Ignorance of these Reasons proves nothing in the Case.

?1790 J. Imison School of Arts (ed. 2) 149 The incompressibility of water, proved by the Florentine experiment.

1844 E. B. Barrett Lady Geraldine's Courtship in Poems I. 237 When my footstep proved my coming.

1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 131 Even though the points had been proven, there was no indictable offence.

1905 N. Munro Vital Spark's Collision in Para Handy (1997) lxxxiii. 347 The charge was found not proven.

1972 M. Kline Math. Thought xxv. 605 Ruffini used but did not prove the auxiliary theorem, now known as Abel's theorem.

1996 Jrnl. Mod. Greek Stud. 14 253 Most of the scholarship surrounding the Macedonian Question is strongly partisan, with opposing sides attempting to prove the righteousness of their own beliefs.

c. transitive. to fend and prove: see fend v. 2.

d. transitive. to prove too much: (of an argument) to use a proposition or mode of reasoning that can be shown to imply conclusions that are false or contrary to what the user of the argument maintains; to be pursued too far; (of a person) to make such an argument.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward for discussion [verb (intransitive)] > reach untenable conclusion

to prove too much1791

1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. ii. 315 The same degree of Kinred will be apt to love the same man, and so emulation will arise... But because this proves too much, it proves nothing at all. For upon the same account, a young man should not marry in a family where there are many daughters.

1771 in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxiii. 294 Our adversaries would fain reduce us to the difficulty of proving too much.

1791 J. Mackintosh Vindiciæ Gallicæ iv. 215 Such reasoning will prove too much, and..taken in its proper extent, it impeaches the great system of morals, of which political principles form only a part.

1801 T. Jefferson Let. 9 Sept. in Writings (1984) 1092 It may be objected that this proves too much, as it proves you cannot enter the ship of a friend to search for contraband of war.

1870 J. H. Newman Ess. Gram. Assent vi. 153 The theory to which I have referred cannot be carried out in practice. It may be rightly said to prove too much.

1901 Econ. Jrnl. 11 583 That is an assumption which would prove too much. If it is true of any country,..there is no reason why it should not be true of a province or district.

1945 H. G. Hayes Spending, Saving & Employm. xvii. 240 Mr. Lippmann cites no cases of this. But anyway he proves too much.

2003 Virginia Law Rev. 89 99 This analogy proves too much. The United States stands in a vastly different relation to the several states as it does to Spain.

a. transitive. To show the existence or reality of; to give demonstration or proof of by action; to evince. Usually with object modified by possessive adjective: to demonstrate (some quality or condition possessed by the subject).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)]

i-sothea925

soothec950

fanda1000

kitheOE

betell1048

showc1175

prove?c1225

treousec1275

stablisha1325

approve1340

verifyc1386

justifya1393

tryc1412

answer?a1425

appreve?c1450

to make gooda1470

convictc1475

averifyc1503

arguea1513

find1512

pree1515

comprobate1531

demonstrate1538

conclude1549

convince1555

argument1558

evict1571

avoucha1593

evidencea1601

remonstrate1601

clear1605

attaint1609

monstrate1609

evince1610

evince1611

improve1613

remonstrance1621

to make out1653

ascertain1670

to bring off1674

to make (something) to through1675

render1678

substantiatea1691

establisha1704

to bring out1727

realize1763

validate1775

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 286 Iesu..com to pruuen hisluue. & schaude þurch cnichtschipe. þet he wes luuewurðe.

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 545 (MED) Mid spere ischal furst ride & mi kniȝthod proue.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 13 (MED) He aros uram dyaþe..and sseawede him to his deciples and ham prouede his arizinge.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 71 Thydir woll we draw in all goodly haste to preve oure worship and prouesse uppon hym.

c1480 (a1400) St. Theodora 186 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 104 Scho went on to pref hir arte.

a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 3476 No man shall eschef Frome yhow this day, his manhed for to pref.

1656 Duchess of Newcastle True Relation in Natures Pictures 383 His Loyaltie is proved..by his necessitated Condition.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 125 Ev'ry Knight is proud to prove his Worth.

1721 G. Roussillon tr. Abbé de Vertot Hist. Revol. Portugal 136 The King..was for bringing half the prostitutes of Lisbon to prove his virility.

1796 M. Hays Mem. E. Courtney II. xvii. 151 I tried to smile, and exerted my spirits, to prove my grateful sensibility of his kindness.

1820 Sporting Mag. 7 xi. 330 ‘Prove thy strength, my son, in the name of God!’ said the preacher.

1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 2 They should prove their love of him whom they had not seen, by love of their brothers whom they had seen.

1910 J. C. Lawson Mod. Greek Folklore & Anc. Greek Relig. 89 A woman..who by her dealings with mankind has proved her real and divine puissance.

1993 Guardian 11 Sept. (Weekend Suppl.) 25/5 The young man needs to prove his love by killing somebody for his bubbleheaded girl.

b. transitive (reflexive). reflexive with adjective, noun, or infinitive as complement. Of a person or thing: to demonstrate oneself, itself to be something; to show oneself by trial, action, or experience to be the thing specified.

ΚΠ

1531 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. II. 216 I..wyll prove myselff, though the powrest,..yet not the vnassurest or vntrustiest of your frends.

1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. lxv. sig. T5 The Macedonian proued himselfe a better Physician for calumny, by his bounties; then his Philosophers, by their gray advisements.

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 13 I would rather prove my self to be a Gentleman, by being learned and humble,..then by a fond ostentation of riches.

1712 A. Pope Corr. 5 Dec. (1956) I. 161 You have proved yourself more tender of another's embryos than the fondest mothers are of their own.

1777 W. Pitt in Parliamentary Hist. Eng. (1814) XIX. 490 General Washington proved himself three times an abler general than [Sir] William Howe.

1803 Censor 1 Aug. 93 He should sound her maid, who..will prove herself a very Mercury in delivering the letters that may be entrusted to her on either side.

1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd II. vi. iii. 260 He proved himself a clever diplomatical.

1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ii. 32 The pony..proved himself a good one, running very stout and fast.

1920 Contemp. Rev. Dec. 882 It proved itself to be a mere bureaucratization of distribution.

1965 K. Tynan Let. 21 Sept. (1994) v. 325 He joined our company in January and has already proved himself a brilliant and inventive farceur.

2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 10 Mar. b10/4 Sarah soon proves herself a supremely unfit mother.

a. intransitive. With adverb or adverbial phrase as complement. To turn out in a specified way (as badly, otherwise, etc.). †to prove well: to turn out well; to thrive, succeed (obsolete; in later use regional).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > result [verb (intransitive)] > turn out > in a specific manner

gangOE

provec1300

goc1425

comea1527

succeed1533

sort1592

to come out1842

issue1855

c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 2365 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 174 Þe kingus sone þare-after-ward prouede vuele i-novȝ, And wel longe bi-fore þe fadere toward þe deþe he drouȝ.

a1325 St. Blaise (Corpus Cambr.) 81 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 49 (MED) Proui it ssel þe bet wiþ him & al þat comeþ to.

1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) 146 This matere..was kepte off, as a kalendere, off experte men, off the dysposycion off the yere folwyng afftyr Crystemes day, qwydyr y[t] schuld preue fayr or foule.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xxvi. 39 Orpyne proueth wel in moyst shadowy places.

1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xvi. 290 Such mariages seldom or neuer proue wel.

1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 79 Ships which have proved as well at sea, as those that are made in Spain.

1695 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) III. 482 Engineer Richards has proved the..new invented mortars, which proved to admiration.

1704 T. Baker Act at Oxf. iv. ii. 42 If they [sc. the children] shou'dn't prove well, 'twou'd be the breaking of both their Hearts.

1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §82 We..lay there to..be the more ready in case the weather should be then in our favour; but it proving otherwise, we returned to Plymouth.

1856 W. Whitman Leaves of Grass (new ed.) 229 Philosophies and religions..may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds.

1886 C. Scott Pract. Sheep-farming 157 Breeders are beginning to understand that it is to their interest to have their sheep prove well.

1934 Chron.-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 10 May 2/2 Threatening adversaries with a knife proved badly for John Krorak.

1991 Guardian (Nexis) 26 Jan. It should have been an easy business, but it is proving otherwise.

b. intransitive. To prosper, thrive; to succeed. regional in later use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by good growth > grow well or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > grow well or flourish

growc725

thrivec1175

flourish1303

provec1330

encrec1420

delighta1475

prosper1535

addle1570

fortify1605

ramp1607

luxuriate1621

succeed1812

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 2671 (MED) So mot ich proue, and y the, Y wend mi lord it hadde ybe.

c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1212 Ye shul se wel thanne How that oure bisynesse shal thryue and preue.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 415 Provyn, or chevyn, prosperor.

c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 2144 (MED) But, without a party, hir cause myȝt nat preff.

?1536 R. Copland Hye Way to Spyttell Hous sig. D.i Inholders that lodge hoores and theues Seldon theyr getyng ony way preues.

1543 Act 35 Hen. VIII c. 17 §1 Standils or Storers, likely to prove and to be Timber-trees.

1604 E. Hake No Gold, No Goodnesse in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign James I (1848) 255 Nothing proves where gold is skant.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 376 All the Eggs laid under one Hen do not always prove.

1716 Worlidge's Compl. Syst. Husbandry & Gardening vii. 206 The Poplar..will prove and thrive wonderfully, especially if the ground be any whit inclined to moisture.

1886 W. Barnes Gloss. Dorset Dial. 89 Prove. To fatten, to gain flesh.

1996 in R. Allsopp Dict. Caribbean Eng. Usage (at cited word) She bring up three nephews and every one o them prove.

†c. intransitive. to prove well: to be well seen, to be evident. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > manifestation > [verb (intransitive)]

seem1340

to prove wellc1387

showa1393

appearc1400

to stare (a person) in the face1510

sparkle1597

shinea1616

transpear1645

relate1663

it is visible1693

to speak out1846

notice1961

society > communication > manifestation > [verb (intransitive)] > slightly

to prove wellc1387

peep1579

smell1837

to come through1868

c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 547 The Miller was a stout carl for the nones..That proued wel, for ouer al ther he cam, At wrastlynge he wolde haue alwey the ram.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 580 He is a grete enemy of all good knyghtes. And [that] prevyth well, for he hath chased oute of that contrey sir Trystram.

c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iv. 88 (MED) Some parled as perte, as prouyd well after.

d. intransitive. With adjective, noun, or infinitive as complement. To show oneself or itself to be (something); to turn out to be, to be shown or found by experience or trial to be (the thing specified). Sometimes with reflexive object implied: cf. sense 5b.

ΚΠ

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 704 (MED) Wel nyȝe pure paradys moȝt preve no better.

a1449 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) ii. 101 (MED) Which offence preveth to be done by the consent of some of the saide Comminalte.

1552 T. Wilson Rule of Reason (rev. ed.) sig. Tviij A ragged colte maie proue a good horse.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. xi. sig. L3^v If old sawes proue true.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 83 One accident, that might have proved of great consequence.

a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 65 For Things said false, and never meant, Do oft prove true by accident.

1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. vi. 25/2 A New Ship,..so walty, that the Master..often said she would prove their Grave.

1769 W. Buchan Domest. Med. ii. 339 When the disease proves violent.

1823 W. Scoresby Jrnl. Voy. Northern Whale-fishery 107 The land..nearest to us was Wollaston Foreland, which, by my late surveys, proves to lie in latitude 74° 25′.

1870 J. Tyndall Lect. Electr. 1 This gas when collected proves to have the specific gravity of hydrogen.

1920 A. Carnegie Autobiogr. x. 138 This forty-thousand-dollar investment proved for us the best of all so far.

1942 E. Waugh Put out More Flags (1943) iii. 141 Susie was proving a disappointment... She still seemed to prefer Colonel Plum.

1988 F. Weldon Leader of Band iii. 14 Those benefits..prove to be no use to me at all.

2005 Independent 9 July 45/1 Hybrids, pioneered by Toyota and Honda, have proved a huge hit on the US coasts.

†e. intransitive. With complement. To come to be, become (something), grow to be. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > change [verb (intransitive)] > pass into state, become

yworthOE

worthOE

goOE

becomec1175

come?a1200

waxc1220

charea1225

aworthc1275

makea1300

fallc1300

breedc1325

grow1340

strikea1375

yern1377

entera1382

turna1400

smitec1400

raxa1500

resolvea1500

to get into ——?1510

waxen1540

get1558

prove1560

proceed1578

befall1592

drop1654

evade1677

emerge1699

to turn out1740

to gain into1756

permute1864

slip1864

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. iij This Thomas..went..after to Paris, and proued best learned of al men in his time [L. inter sui temporis uiros doctos principem locum obtinuit].

1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 136 Neither..will other races in that soile proue blacke.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 120 To Birds their Native Heav'ns contagious prove, From Clouds they fall, and leave their Souls above.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Lord of Burleigh in Poems (new ed.) II. 204 Then her countenance all over Pale again as death did prove.

†7. transitive. To pronounce (something) to be good or right, to commend; = approve v.¹ 6a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > approve of, accept, or sanction [verb (transitive)]

loveeOE

underfoc1000

underfong?c1225

undertakea1250

provec1300

allowa1325

favour1340

approvec1380

seem?c1450

conprovec1503

avow1530

rectify1567

annuate1585

to be for1590

sancite1597

improve1603

applauda1616

acclamate1624

resenta1646

own1649

comprobate1660

sanction1797

likea1825

approbate1833

to hold with (arch. of, on, for)1895

agree1900

endorse1914

condone1962

c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 196 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 59 (MED) To þe pope Innocent..he bad graunti is Religion..A[n]t þat he scholde is ordre preouen and is Revle al-so.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 337 Kyng William his dedes..beeþ worþy to be i-preved.

a1400 (?a1325) Medit. on Supper of our Lord (Harl.) (1875) 18 Y wyl no þyng seye But þat ys preued by crystes feye.

c1475 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1974) 171 (MED) That that he prouueth is alloude, exalted, and vnpunisshid.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 4942 Part of þat pepull prouyt hit for wit.

1545 T. Forster Disc. in P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) III. 33 He thinketh that that adventure would be proved; for he saith..the cardinal is..smally beloved in Scotland.

a. transitive. Law. To establish the genuineness and validity of (a will); to obtain probate of.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > transfer of property > testamentary disposition > bequeath by will [verb (transitive)] > affirm validity of will

provec1436

probate1720

establish1806

c1436 Domesday Ipswich (BL Add. 25011) in T. Twiss Black Bk. Admiralty (1873) II. 73 (MED) The executoures of the dede be malice or by collusyon willen not preven the testament.

1473 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 467 Neuerthelesse, plese yow to weet þat I have provyd my fadres wyll and testement.

1521 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 120 Item in expenses..o^r the will cowd be proved.

1616 B. Jonson Epicœne v. iii, in Wks. I. 594 You can proue a Will, master Doctor, you can proue nothing else.

1659 T. Fuller Appeal Iniured Innocence i. 43 Wills..are proved in the Court-Christian, which evidenceth something of Ecclesiasticalness in them.

1726 S. Sewall Diary 28 Mar. (1973) II. 1044 I prov'd Elder Preston's Will.

1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 31 The will is to be proved, and administration is to be taken.

1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 182 He cannot so disclaim after he has proved the will of his own testator.

1885 Whitaker's Almanack 421 One [executor] alone is competent to prove a will and carry out its provisions.

1958 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Jan. 14 The will of John House, dated at Hebron, Ct., the 5th. August 1797, and proved the 9th. August 1805.

1987 ‘B. Vine’ Fatal Inversion (BNC) 54 The will would have to be proved, but..why shouldn't he and his wife and Bridget use the Hall regularly at weekends?

2000 Times (Nexis) 11 July Even if it was left to him, the executor would not usually have been able to touch the account without first proving the will.

†b. transitive. gen. To establish the genuineness or validity of (a person or thing); to show to be such as is asserted or claimed. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] > be proof of > in line with assertion

prove1517

showa1530

convince1595

approvea1680

1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 41 The holy crosse was provyd by resyng of a Dede man.

1531 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Court of Requests (1898) 33 Your seid Orator hath noo especyaltie ne wrytyng prouyng the seid contracte.

1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. iii. 365 It is very hard to prove a Witch.

1866 J. M. Neale Sequences & Hymns 89 If the purple proves the King.

c. transitive (reflexive). To evince proof of (oneself as having ability or prowess); to show oneself to be able, courageous, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (reflexive)]

approve1559

verifyc1595

prove1895

1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage ii. 18 He finally concluded that the only way to prove himself was to go into the blaze.

1917 H. T. Comstock Man thou Gavest 300 I done told Burke I—I was going to prove myself.

1959 J. Barzun House of Intellect v. 126 They also considered it unjust that it should take ten or a dozen years of not especially agreeable work to prove oneself in a profession.

1973 Times 1 Dec. 13/6 You have to prove yourself to your father, don't you?

1997 J-17 June 49/1 I drew the stone of Ur which means a chance to prove oneself. It's clear you have to face up to this fear and overcome it.

d. transitive. to have something to prove and variants: to need to succeed because of doubts about one's ability; to feel that one has such a need, because of a sense of inferiority.

ΚΠ

1963 Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Daily Jrnl. 25 July 15/8 I've got nothing to prove against a team like the Packers.

1980 Times 30 July 10/4 After leaving Sussex under a cloud four years ago, he has something to prove.

2002 M. McGrath Silvertown (2003) i. 4 Fuelled by the frantic energy of immigrants with something to prove, they evolved quite naturally into entrepreneurs.

2006 Chicago Sun Times (Nexis) 4 Apr. A7 He knows he can play and that he doesn't have anything to prove.

Phrasal verbs

With adverbs in specialized senses. to prove out

Originally U.S.

transitive. To establish (something) as successful or workable; (also) to test (a system or process) exhaustively. Also intransitive: to be established as successful or workable.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > test [verb (intransitive)] > undergo test > with specific result > be confirmed by testing

to prove out1959

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] > exhaustively

to prove out1964

1905 Federal Reporter 135 994 He said that he had ‘sold the coal, provided the test well proved out satisfactory.’

1959 Wall St. Jrnl. 13 May 14/2 Fishermen are pondering the commercial possibilities of pollock... If pollock proves out, the trawlers could stay closer to U.S. shores.

1964 D. F. Galouye Counterfeit World xii. 98 Of all the metaphysical concepts..mine was the only one open to final verification. It could be proved out conclusively.

1972 Daily Tel. 10 Nov. (Colour Suppl.) 10/1 A duration of 50 to 60 hours was required really to prove out the plane.

1993 Sci. Amer. Sept. 16/3 There are lots of valuable things out there... I'm optimistic some of them will prove out.

2000 M. de Villiers Water (new ed.) iv. xvi. 277 The science proves out. The specific gravity difference..is enough to keep us on the surface.

to prove up

1. transitive. North American. To complete the proof of right to (something); spec. to show that one has fulfilled the legal conditions for taking up (a grant of government land), so that a patent may be issued. Also intransitive. Now chiefly historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > [verb (transitive)] > prove right to possession

to prove up1833

1833 B. W. Miller Rep. Supreme Court Louisiana 4 548 The register testified, that Welsh filed his notice to enter the land in contest, the 12th of July, 1830; that a commission issued from his office in February, 1830, to take testimony to prove up plaintiffs' claim under the act of 1814.

1857 Lawrence (Kansas Territory) Republican 28 May 2/5 A man buying a claim with a house already on it, must himself erect one before he can prove up and take the duplicate for his land.

1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds ii. 43 My wife proved up on her Cherokee blood.

1892 Harper's Mag. June 95/2 As they ‘prove up’ those claims in the fulness of time, each will get her one hundred dollars.

1911 J. F. Wilson Land Claimers 140 He's going to prove up in April.

1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 11 Mar. 12/5 Proved up, with hard work, a wild and forest covered homestead.

1969 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 16 Nov. 12/2 Mr. James Foulds, widower, proved up on his homestead..in 1910 or thereabouts.

1992 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 27 Dec. 16/1 In North Dakota, most homesteaders failed to remain on their land after ‘proving up’ a claim.

2004 R. S. Wheeler Bounty Trail 62 He knew which mining claims were patented. Most weren't. They had yet to be proved up.

2. transitive. Mining (originally North American). = sense 1f. Also intransitive: (of a deposit of coal, ore, etc.) to be ascertained to have a particular position and extent.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > mining > mine [verb (transitive)] > examine

prove1839

to prove up1853

1853 Harper's Mag. Mar. 444/1 Copper mining is..in its infancy, and all that has as yet been done is hardly more..than may be expressed by the phrase, common among the miners, of ‘proving up’ the veins.

1917 Federal Reporter 241 438 There was ore underneath this Weyerhaeuser 80... It was proved up on both sides and known to be there.

1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 13 Oct. 2/4 Several claims staked up and down the channel from the discovery have proved up in a similar manner.

1977 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Jan. 42/1 It frequently takes as much as 10 to 12 years from an initial discovery to prove up a viable mine, arrange finance and forward sales-contracts.

2001 K. Krajick Barren Lands (2002) xx. 380 Finally, north of the Sloan Ranch, he proved up a minor diamond pipe.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	prove
释义	† proven. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French prouve. Etymology: < Middle French prouve surgical probe (see proof n.). Compare earlier probe n. 3 and later proof n. 16a. Obsolete. rare. A surgical probe. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > surgical instruments > [noun] > probe or sound tenta1400 probe?a1425 search?a1425 sequere mea1425 searcher?c1425 searching iron1477 prove?1541 privet1598 proof1611 style1631 seeker1658 searching instrument1663 stylet1697 stiletto1699 breast-probe1739 sound1797 sounder1875 tracer1882 ?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens iii. sig. Liv The maner to take theym [sc. seames] of, is to put the tayle of the proue [Fr. de lesprouve] vnder the fyst, & to cut the threde of the sayd tayle of the proue, and in puttynge the flat of the proue aboue the lyppe wherby y^e threde is drawen out, for drede of dyuydynge the wounde. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2020). provev. Brit. /pruːv/, U.S. /pruv/ Inflections: Past participle proved, proven; Forms: 1. α. early Middle English pruuie (south-west midlands), Middle English iproved (past tense), Middle English prof, Middle English proffe, Middle English proof, Middle English proufe, Middle English proui (southern), Middle English prouie (southern), Middle English prouue, Middle English prouy (southern), Middle English provee (southern), Middle English prow, Middle English prowe, Middle English prueth (3rd singular present indicative, probably transmission error), Middle English prufe (northern), Middle English pruue, Middle English pruve (chiefly northern), Middle English–1500s profe, Middle English–1500s proufe, Middle English–1600s proue, Middle English–1600s prouve, Middle English– prove, 1500s–1600s prooue, 1500s–1600s proove, 1600s proov, 1600s–1800s provd (past tense); English regional (north-western) 1700s–1800s pruive, 1800s– priuve; Scottish pre-1700 profe, pre-1700 proffe, pre-1700 proif, pre-1700 proife, pre-1700 proof, pre-1700 prooue, pre-1700 proove, pre-1700 proue, pre-1700 prouue, pre-1700 prouve, pre-1700 prov, pre-1700 prow, pre-1700 prowe, pre-1700 pruf, pre-1700 prufe, pre-1700 pruff, pre-1700 pruffe, pre-1700 pruif, pre-1700 pruife, pre-1700 pruiff, pre-1700 pruiffe, pre-1700 pruwe, pre-1700 prwif, pre-1700 prwiff, pre-1700 1700s– prove, pre-1700 1800s– pruive, pre-1700 1800s– pruve, 1800s pruv (Shetland); N.E.D. (1909) also records a form early Middle English yproue. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 93 Proue ech man him seluen.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 12300 Com to morn & proue [a1450 Lamb. prof] þi day.c1410 tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 99 He perceyved and i-proved þe deceyvynge [L. dolo] of Edrik.1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 181^v Alexander in prouvyng maisteries would not bee matched but with kynges.1599 G. Chapman Humerous Dayes Myrth sig. C3^v You are come to tempt and prooue at full the spirit of my wife.1609 in Lett. Eccl. Affairs Scotl. (1851) I. 185 That this tempest wil not continew, and that it wil pruif but a gowk storm.1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1235 Experience can prove.1652 T. Gataker Antinomianism 13 Such..arguments proov nothing.a1743 J. Relph St. Agnes Fast in Misc. of Poems (1747) 25 Sud cruel Roger pruive sae cruel still, I mun not like a fuil gang fast aw day, And kest mysell just wittenly away.1898 ‘Junda’ Echoes from Klingrahool 52 Hit aa wis needet, every scaar, Hit taks da stoarm ta pruv da faar.1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows v. 77 At the same time he avoided trying to prove too much, and admitted that to be a Christian was an act of faith. β. Middle English ipreoues (west midlands, 3rd singular present indicative), Middle English preef, Middle English pref, Middle English prefe, Middle English preff, Middle English preooui (south-west midlands), Middle English preoue (west midlands and south-western), Middle English preoui (south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English preouy (south-western), Middle English preove (south-western), Middle English prewe, Middle English preyf, Middle English proef, Middle English proeue, Middle English proeve, Middle English pruefe, Middle English pryue, Middle English–1500s preeve, Middle English–1500s preue, Middle English–1500s prieve, Middle English–1500s pryve, Middle English–1500s 1700s preve, Middle English–1600s preeue, 1500s preaue, 1500s prooeyve, 1600s prive; English regional (northern) 1800s preave, 1800s– preeave (Yorkshire); Scottish pre-1700 pref, pre-1700 prefe, pre-1700 preff, pre-1700 preffe, pre-1700 preif, pre-1700 preife, pre-1700 preiff, pre-1700 preiue, pre-1700 preiv, pre-1700 preiw, pre-1700 preiwe, pre-1700 preue, pre-1700 preuef, pre-1700 preuve, pre-1700 prev, pre-1700 preve, pre-1700 prew, pre-1700 prewe, pre-1700 preyf, pre-1700 preyff, pre-1700 prief, pre-1700 priue, pre-1700 1700s–1800s prive, pre-1700 1700s– prieve, pre-1700 1800s preive, pre-1700 1800s– preeve; N.E.D. (1909) also records a form late Middle English preiue; see also pree v.c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 10 Ha lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen, & euch an bereð a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten..forte binden & to drahen into inwarde helle hwuch se he mei preoouin [Royal preouin] þurh his boc þet is on euch sunne enbreuet. ▸ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 126 The feith of holi cherche..upon believe Stant more than thei conne prieve.c1395 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 2238 Thexperience so preueth euery day The treson whiche that womman dooth to man.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 5374 Wele ys him has hap to prefe.c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xii. 39 And putteþ forþ presompcions to preouen þe sothe.?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. v. pr. iii. 29 I ne proeve nat thilke same resoun. ▸ 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 412 Prevyn, or provyn.a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 14 Fire preueþ golde. ▸ ?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 728 in Poems (1981) 31 Or heid, or feit, or paynchis let me preif.1576 in F. J. Furnivall Gild of St. Mary, Lichfield (1920) 27 Prooeyvinge the saide supplycacion.a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 12 Nane be so pert to prewe..Of thair awin blude to mak ane king agane.c1600 in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 186 Priests, prief you men.1634 Noble Souldier i. sig. B4^v I vow tomorrow..with all Ceremonies Due to the Church, to seale our nuptials, To prive thy sonne with full consent of State, Spaines heire Apparant, borne in wedlocke Vowes.1723 A. Ramsay Nuptials 19 Skink 't up and let us prive.1789 D. Sillar Poems 67 For ever sin' the serpent, Eve Did cry the cursed fruit to prieve.1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 657 Red wine and weel spiced cake? Ye'll no preive the samen at a lady's, let alane at a witch's lyke-wake.1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 5 We hated da sooen gruel—we hardly preeved it ava. 2. Past participle a. α. Middle English iproued, Middle English iprouede, Middle English iproved, Middle English iprowid, Middle English ipruuet, Middle English profite, Middle English prouyt, Middle English provede, Middle English provid, Middle English provide, Middle English provyd, Middle English prowed, Middle English prowede, Middle English prowid, Middle English prowyd, Middle English pruyd (probably transmission error), Middle English yproued, Middle English yproved, Middle English yprovid, Middle English yprowed, Middle English yprowide, Middle English–1500s prouid, Middle English–1500s prouyd, Middle English–1600s proued, Middle English– proved, 1500s yprovyde, 1500s–1600s prooved, 1500s–1800s provd, 1500s–1800s prov'd; also Scottish pre-1700 proffit, pre-1700 profyt, pre-1700 provit, pre-1700 provyd, pre-1700 provyt, pre-1700 prowit, pre-1700 prowyd, pre-1700 prowyde, pre-1700 prowyt, pre-1700 pruffit, pre-1700 prufit, pre-1700 prufyt, pre-1700 pruit (probably transmission error), pre-1700 prute (probably transmission error), pre-1700 pruvit, pre-1700 prwiffit, 1700s prowed, 1800s pruv't, 1900s– pruived, 1900s– pruve't. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 138 Hwenne ha is ipreoued [c1230 Corpus ipruuet; a1250 Titus ipreouet] wel is hit iseit. for alswa preoueð [c1230 Corpus pruueð; a1250 Titus ipreoues] god hise leoue icorene.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9373 Þis noblemen..Þat in armes iproued beþ.1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 4 Any thyng agayne þe kynge's pease þat myght be proved apon hym lawfully.1472 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 23 It may be prowyd.1473 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 467 Neuerthelesse, plese yow to weet þat I have provyd my fadres wyll and testement.a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) 218 Here is I-prowid that the sowle sueth the condycionys of the bodyes.1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 41 The holy crosse was provyd by resyng of a Dede man.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11665 As prouit is of old.1584–9 J. Maxwall Commonplace Bk. f. 29^v Excepe in tyme he be weill prwiffit Or thingis owtfall.a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 363 As it mycht weill be prute [rhyme mute].1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion To Rdr. sig. A From any example, either of Ancient, or Modern, that haue proued in this kind.1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 31 The will is to be proved, and administration is to be taken.1872 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. 135 The monster cannon now only requires to be vented and proved.a1902 J. Heughan in Gallovidian (1913) 59 108 The fleysome lion shall be harmless pruve't.2005 Guardian 25 Jan. i. 26/1 Yet 25 years on, this most ascetic of bands have proved surprisingly influential. β. Middle English epreuyd, Middle English ipreoued (south-west midlands), Middle English ipreouet (west midlands), Middle English ipreoved, Middle English ipreued, Middle English ipreved, Middle English iprevid, Middle English iprevyde, Middle English iproevid, Middle English peruyd (transmission error), Middle English preeued, Middle English preevid, Middle English preued, Middle English preuede, Middle English preuyd, Middle English preuyt, Middle English preved, Middle English previd, Middle English prevyd, Middle English prewyd, Middle English proeved, Middle English pryued, Middle English ypreeued, Middle English ypreoved (south-western), Middle English ypreued, Middle English ypreuede, Middle English ypreuyd; Scottish pre-1700 preffit, pre-1700 prefit, pre-1700 preft, pre-1700 prefyt, pre-1700 preiffit, pre-1700 preifit, pre-1700 preued, pre-1700 preuit, pre-1700 previd, pre-1700 previt, pre-1700 prevyt, pre-1700 prewet, pre-1700 prewit, pre-1700 prewyt. a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 80 Vor hwon heo is ipreoued hit seið heo schal beon i kruned mid te crune of liue.c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 399 Þat is preued and ishewed Boþe to lered and to lewed.a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) VII. 259 Þat ooth was i-preved untrewe.1439 Rolls of Parl. V. 22/1 By the seid Testament yet nought proeved.c1450 Speculum Christiani (Harl. 6580) (1933) 200 Euery wycked man lyues ther-for..that gud men be pryued by hym.c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Kings of Eng. (Harl. 372) in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 716 The Fifte Herry..Riht fortunat, preevid [v.r. prewyd] in pes & werr..Regned x yeer.1492–3 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 294 Becaus of the deforce led and preffit one him in the said schirreffis court.1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Kii That Christ prewit aganis ye saduceis yat ye deid sal stand wp agane.1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour i. sig. D.vi^v Geue thay of that tre had preuit, Perpetuallye thay mycht haue leuit. b. α. 1500s prouen, 1600s– proven; Scottish pre-1700 profen, pre-1700 profin, pre-1700 prouen, pre-1700 prouin, pre-1700 proveine, pre-1700 provin, pre-1700 provine, pre-1700 provyn, pre-1700 provyne, pre-1700 prowen, pre-1700 prowene, pre-1700 prowin, pre-1700 prowine, pre-1700 prowyn, pre-1700 prowyne, pre-1700 pruven, pre-1700 pruvyne, pre-1700 1700s– proven, 1900s– pruiven. 1509 in D. Littlejohn Aberd. Sheriff Court (1904) I. 72 To heir and se the saide brekin of lawborrowis provin one Huchon Andirsone.1561 Bible (Geneva) f. 323 This is a iuste rewarde of theyr arrogancie..that thei shulde be prouen fooles.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 349 Bot how that may be profen of the quene, he denyes.1619 Rec. Perth Kirk Session 23 Mar. Sua it lyis ower till it can be prowin.1632 in W. Fraser Sutherland Bk. (1892) II. 158 The Duck of Saxone, quha hes prowen vngraith to his countrie.1633 W. Struther True Happines 8 When a number serveth not necessitie, all are proven to be weak.1730 in D. G. Barron Court Bk. Urie (1892) 140 It cannot be proven that ever there grew so much as twelve bolls of bear upon the said two tacks communibus annis above the seed.1818 R. P. Knight Symbolic Lang. (1876) 175 Some who had proven themselves prolific.1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire II. iv. vi. 368 A verdict of..Not Proven indicates suspicion, but a want of proof of..guilt.1850 W. E. Gladstone Remarks Royal Supremacy 38 Whatever can be proved from his mouth..may be regarded as proven à fortiori.1927 E. O'Neill Marco Millions ii. i. 106 I believe that what can be proven cannot be true.1957 B. Evans & C. Evans Dict. Contemp. Amer. Usage 399/1 The participle proven is respectable literary English. In the United States it is used more often than the form proved. In Great Britain proved is used more often and proven sounds affected to many people.1980 Daily Tel. 18 Mar. 15/3 As yet..chloracne is the only disorder proven to result from human contact with olioxin. β. Scottish pre-1700 preuen, pre-1700 preven, pre-1700 previn, pre-1700 preving, pre-1700 prevyne, pre-1700 prevyng, pre-1700 prewyne, 1900s– preeven (Aberdeenshire). 1541 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1880) II. 14 For ilk falt beand preving or vnpurgit.1560–7 in W. Macgill Old Ross-shire & Scotl. (1909) I. 14 Ane pairt of my exceptiouns is to be previn be wryte.1575 in D. Balfour Oppress. 16th Cent. Orkney & Zetland (1859) 6 As is notoriously known and sall be preven.1606 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1885) 1st Ser. VII. 182 Whilk man wes previn to be my lord Maxwellis man.1960 People's Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 26 Nov. 8/6 Its preeven richt iss 'ear, bit, min' ye, tho' things are lookin' black. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French prover, prouver. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French prover, pruver, Old French, Middle French prouver (in inflected forms with root-stress preuve- ), (rare) preuver (French prouver ) to show, demonstrate (first half of the 12th cent.), to establish as true (c1130), (used reflexively) to show oneself to be, to turn out to be (c1170), to show oneself to be able (c1170), (of a thing) to be evidence (1197), to be (in a particular condition) (c1285), to prove in court (c1292), to test (end of the 13th cent., apparently originally Anglo-Norman) < classical Latin probāre to test, to examine, to put to the proof, to approve, commend, to authorize, sanction, to prove, demonstrate, in post-classical Latin also to learn by experience, to try, endeavour (Vulgate), to show oneself to be (12th cent. in a British source), to establish the validity of a will (from 1304 in British sources) < probus good (see probity n.). Compare Old Occitan proar (12th cent.), prohar (1296), Catalan provar (12th cent.), Spanish probar (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese provar (13th cent.), Italian provare (a1243); also Middle Dutch proeven (Dutch proeven), Middle Low German prȫven, prōven, prǖven, Middle High German prüeven, prūven (German prüfen), Old Icelandic prófa, Old Swedish prova, pröva (Swedish prova, pröva), Old Danish prøve (15th cent.; Danish prøve; in early modern Danish also prove).With the form history, compare the discussion of the parallel development of move v. The β forms survive in the regional language of northern England and Scotland. With the β forms compare also French preuve proof n. The past participle proven , originally Scots and the usual form in Scottish English, developed from the β forms by analogy with strong verbs like cloven , past participle of cleave v.¹, woven , past participle of weave v.¹ It is at least as common as proved in current North American English. It is also spreading into other varieties of English, in which the highest proportion of occurrences appears to occur in the past and perfect passive. Compare proven adj., proved adj. In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). The (isolated) 3rd singular present indicative form ipreoues is probably by association with the prefixed forms of the past participle, although it could alternatively be interpreted as showing a separate formation in y- prefix. In sense 1g after German prüfen (S. Hahnemann, 1829 or earlier). Classical Latin probāre was earlier borrowed into Old English as a legal term: prōfian to assume to be, take for. Compare the following:eOE Laws of Ine (Corpus Cambr. 173) xx. 98 Gif feorcund mon oððe fremde butan wege geond wudu gonge & ne hrieme ne horn blawe, for ðeof he bið to profianne. I. To make trial of; to try, test. 1. a. transitive. To put (a person or thing) to the test; to test or assess the genuineness or qualities of; (Scottish) to test by tasting, to sample. Now rare in general use (but cf. technical uses at senses 1b, 1f, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] fandc893 costeneOE afondOE provea1200 fraista1300 assay1330 sayc1330 try1362 approvec1380 examinea1382 winnowa1382 tempt1382 tastea1400 assailc1405 essay1484 scryc1615 sensea1688 test1748 trial1981 dogfood1997 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [verb (transitive)] haveeOE cuneOE supOE yfeeleOE afondOE canOE seeOE knowc1175 provea1200 feelc1225 passa1325 fraistc1330 wielda1375 wita1450 experiment1484 approve1578 experiencea1586 resent1595 fand- the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] > be proof of provea1200 showa1325 declarec1400 verifyc1430 givec1449 persuadea1525 arguea1538 demonstrate1572 argue1585 put1596 evidence1611 evident1643 to make out1795 a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 93 Proue ech man him seluen, and gif he feleð þat he is wurðe þer to, þenne understonde he þat husel, and drinke of þe calice. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 138 Hwenne ha is ipreoued [c1230 Corpus ipruuet; a1250 Titus ipreouet] wel is hit iseit. for alswa preoueð [c1230 Corpus pruueð; a1250 Titus ipreoues] god hise leoue icorene. c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 3001 (MED) King and erls wiþouten dout Þer gun him anon rebout Forto prouen his maner. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 8115 Þe might o þam þou latt vs proue. c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 43 How þe fadir taght his son for to prufe his frende. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) John vi. f. cxxvij This he sayde to prove hym. For he hym sylfe knewe what he wolde do. 1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Diiij No flesh nor bone Can preif the honnie we from Pinde distill. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Thess. v. 21 Proue [ Wyclif 1382 prove, a1425 L.V. preue ȝe, Rhem. prooue, Tindale to Geneva examen] all things: hold fast that which is good. View more context for this quotation 1704 J. Oldmixon Pastoral Poem 25 In vain they prove again the bloody Field. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 67 For ever sin' the serpent, Eve Did cry the cursed fruit to prieve. 1815 W. Wordsworth White Doe of Rylstone iii. 61 Nor did he turn aside to prove His Brothers' wisdom or their love. 1881 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper xxv. 198 He..began to devour him from head to foot with his eyes..stepping briskly around him and about him to prove him from all points of view. 1906 Englewood (Chicago) Times 3 Aug. He would prove the oxen by testing their strength, capacity for work, and tractableness. 1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 5 We hated da sooen gruel—we hardly preeved it ava. b. transitive. To subject (any natural, prepared, or manufactured substance or object, now esp. a firearm) to a testing process. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] > specifically a substance or object prove1340 society > armed hostility > military equipment > production and development of arms > produce or develop arms [verb (transitive)] > processes in gun-making > test prove1788 plate1904 test-fire1947 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 158 (MED) And þereuore zayþ saynt Ion Þet me ne leue naȝt þe gostes ac þet me hise prouy erþan þet me hise onderuonge. 1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 1 Yat metaill..was proved and founden fals. a1500 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 61 All maner of mesurys..schall be proved in ye sayd cowrte..two tymes in ye ȝhere. ?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) i. xvii. 165 As golde is proued in the fournes. 1584 A. Barlowe in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) iii. 731 Our selues prooued the soile, and put some of our Pease into the ground, and in tenne daies they were of foureteene ynches high. 1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. v. 188 Pyrites aureus (which if torrefy'd..prove all Iron Ores). 1720 D. Manley Power of Love vi. 328 He saw a Gentleman cheapning and proving Swords. 1788 J. May Jrnl. 17 May (1873) (modernized text) 50 This afternoon I proved my rifle-gun. 1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 136 Test for proving Steel. Take weak aqua-fortis, and drop a little on the sampler in question. 1872 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. 135 The monster cannon now only requires to be vented and proved. 1900 G. T. Teasdale-Buckell Experts on Guns & Shooting xxxvi. 536 When a gun has been proved in this way it is to be marked as follows. 1954 R. Wailes Eng. Windmill i. 20 Before dressing, the stones are staffed with a laminated mahogany staff proved on a cast-iron straight edge. 2004 Sporting Gun Mar. 19/1 Both are double barrel hammer guns built around 1882 and proved for black powder only. †c. intransitive. To make a trial of something, esp. by sampling; to taste. Cf. pree v. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (intransitive)] > test by tasting provec1390 to taste ofa1400 saya1450 taste1600 the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > try experiments or make experiment [verb (intransitive)] taste1382 provec1390 assayc1394 try1573 to try conclusions1601 to give the adventure1607 experiment1787 experimentalize1800 experimentize1847 dogfood1996 c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 273 (MED) Take al þi flesches fondynge fram þe And lete hit falle on þat hermyte..þat he may of þy fondyng proue. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 3656 Þou bidd him rise þar-of to proue. a1500 (?a1400) Tale King Edward & Shepherd (Cambr.) (1930) 446 Ȝet shall þou drynk a drauȝt fyne Off gode drynk, as i wene; Off Lanycoll þou shall proue. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour i. sig. D.vi^v Geue thay of that tre had preuit, Perpetuallye thay mycht haue leuit. 1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxiv. 55 Some of my Company proved of them, and they caused vomits and purging. d. transitive. Printing. To test (a plate, type, etc.) by taking a proof; to take a proof impression of. Cf. proof v. 1c. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > printing > manner or style of printing > style of printing [verb (transitive)] > take proof impression prove1797 proof1884 1797 Encycl. Brit. XV. 590/1 [The engraver] proved a plate in different states, that he might ascertain how far his labours had been successful. 1847 Nat. Encycl. I. 958 The plate is..sent to the printer to prove. 1921 J. Pennell Graphic Arts 205 When you have done this, the next thing is to prove the plate, which you do by putting it on the bed of the press. 1960 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. X. 601/2 If type produced on ‘hot metal’ machines is to be used, the type is set, proved, read, and corrected. 1999 J. N. Moore F. L. Griggs vi. 152 Laneham was studied, etched, bitten, proved, and revised through three states all inside the month of January 1923. e. transitive. Mathematics. Originally: to establish the correctness of (a mathematical procedure). Also intransitive: to pass such a test of correctness (figurative in quot. 1862). Now rare.In later use usually understood as sense 4. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > mathematics > calculate or solve [verb (transitive)] > test correctness of prove1806 the world > relative properties > number > mathematics > mathematize [verb (intransitive)] > calculate or solve mathematical problem reckon1340 calk1398 workc1400 compute1634 supputate1680 prove1862 1806 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) I. 15 There are three different ways of proving Multiplication. 1806 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) I. 16 Multiplication is also very naturally proved by Division. 1862 Temple Bar 6 542 My friend's moral arithmetic was wrongly squared, and wouldn't prove. 1942 National Math. Mag. Feb. 247 According to the Master, the surest way to prove multiplication is by division. f. transitive. Mining and Oil Industry. To ascertain the position and extent of (a deposit, seam, well, etc.). Cf. to prove up 2 at Phrasal verbs. Usually in passive. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > mining > mine [verb (transitive)] > examine prove1839 to prove up1853 1839 R. I. Murchison Silurian Syst. i. viii. 124 The coal has been proved, if not worked out, under every part of it. 1870 Trans. & Proc. N.Z. Inst. 1869 2 368 At Coromandel..the [gold-bearing] lodes have been ‘proved’ to a depth of over 300 feet from the surface. 1883 J. Bradshaw N.Z. as it was & Is xii. 178 In the Coromandel and Thames goldfields, reefs have been ‘proved’ to a depth of over 600 feet below the sea level. 1931 Geogr. Rev. 21 76 24 exploitable seams with a total thickness of 30 to 40 meters of coal have been proved. 1979 T. Williamson Samson Strike i. 7 In spite of his twenty years in the oil business he still felt the elation of proving a new well. 2002 Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent) (Nexis) 27 Nov. 7 These boreholes proved vast coal reserves which due to the economic decline of the mining industry remain untouched. g. transitive. Homoeopathy. To give (a drug) to healthy people to ascertain its effect. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > pharmacy > practise pharmaceutically [verb (transitive)] > test drug prove1843 1833 C. H. Devrient tr. Hahnemann Organon of Healing Art 216 Employ those medicines whose pure effects have been proved upon a healthy person in the manner best suited to the cure of diseases homœopathically.] 1843 Brit. Jrnl. Homœopathy 1 160 It is essential that a preparation precisely similar to that proved should be always employed. 1910 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 645/2 To ascertain the curative virtues of any drug it must be ‘proved’ upon healthy persons—that is, taken by healthy individuals of both sexes in a state of health in gradually increasing doses. 1974 Homoeopathy June–July 93 I got Nelsons to potentise fulmar oil, and I wanted it proved, but no one would cooperate. 2003 T. Robson Introd. to Complementary Med. xi. 220 Each constituent of a complex remedy is selected because of the symptoms it exhibits when proved separately. h. intransitive. Of bread or dough: to become aerated by the fermentation of yeast prior to baking; to rise. Occasionally also of yeast: to cause such aeration. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of bread > prepare bread [verb (intransitive)] > prove prove1852 1852 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) I. 181/1 The whole of the flour is..left about an hour..to prove. 1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 139 In making a cake, if it rises well, ‘it proves well’. A baker will often say ‘It is good yeast, it proves so well’. 1909 Mrs. Beeton's Cookery Bk. (new ed.) 265/2 Knead well, and leave dry, cover over with a clean cloth, and let it prove for 1½ hours. 1959 Woman 14 Mar. 21/1 Put the dough to rise and prove in a warm but not too hot place. 1999 BBC Good Food July 101/2 Score the dough with a knife—this allows it to relax and prove more quickly. 2. transitive. To find out, learn, or know by experience; to have experience of; to go through, undergo, suffer. Also with complement: to find by experience (a person or thing) to be (something). Cf. approve v.¹ 9. Now rare (archaic in later use). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > undergo or experience feelOE seeOE passa1325 provec1330 attastec1374 wielda1375 tastec1380 sufferc1390 to pass through ——c1400 expert?a1475 traverse1477 experiment1484 savour1509 to taste of1526 to go through ——1535 sustain1575 approve1578 try1578 experience1588 undergo1600 to run through ——1602 pree1806 c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 5222 (MED) Mi strengþe is dubled, bi god aboue, & þat ȝe schul ȝete today proue. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 4383 (MED) If i liue þou sal me proue An iuel freind to þi be-houe. c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 105 Where-by he may..prove þe gret woo þat..lovers haue. 1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. lxxxxiiii^v That thoughe a man had hym delyuered than The same peryll wolde he haue proued agayne. 1588 W. Allen Admon. to Nobility & People 10 Other inconueniences which they had proued, and mighte easely fall againe. 1662 A. Cokayne Trag. Ovid v. ii. 112 in Poems I may prove The like sad destiny Clorina did, Should I become your wife. 1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) ii. xiii They only shall his Mercy prove. 1852 M. Arnold Empedocles on Etna, & Other Poems 180 In the world I learnt, what there Thou too wilt surely one day prove, That will, that energy, though rare, Are yet far, far less rare than love. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 59 Preevin Faith's sweet anodyne. †3. a. transitive. With infinitive or clause as object. To try, endeavour, attempt, strive (to do something). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > attempt [verb (transitive)] fandOE assayc1300 tryc1315 provec1330 adventurea1387 sayc1390 paina1400 havec1400 practisea1450 afforcec1487 afond1488 attempta1538 procure1574 endeavour1581 offer1611 poacha1616 attent1620 to venture at1623 essay1641 attentate1656 smacka1657 tempt1697 to try at1794 to have a go1802 to make a (good, poor, etc.) fist1833 tackle1847 to have or take a whack at1891 to make (or have, etc.) a stab at (something)1895 to have a dash (at)1916 c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 2826 (MED) King Lot proued, verrament, Out it to drawe anon riȝt, Ac he no miȝt. c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) 215 (MED) Euer he proued to don hem schame. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. xv. 26 Macedonye and Achaye proueden [a1425 L.V. assaied; Latin probaverunt] for to make sum collacioun. c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) 183 (MED) I shall prove with al my myghte To breke there bothe spere and shelde. a1500 (?a1475) Guy of Warwick (Cambr. Ff.2.38) 285 Ȝyt schall y oonys prove For to wynne þat maydenys loue. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. vj He wyl proue and do the best he can to make the same decree and his questions to accorde. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 304 I sall preif the morne..To bring Coillis to the Court. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxiii. xix. 487 They within the towne were driven..to plucke off the lether from their shields & bucklers, and make them soft in skalding water, and prove [L. conari] how they could eat them. a1610 T. Rogers Leycesters Ghost (1641) 14 I did also prove To winne, their handmaids. b. intransitive. To set oneself to do something; to try, strive, essay. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or set oneself to do [verb (intransitive)] found12.. to take on (also upon) one(self)a1300 assay1330 study1340 to put (also lay, set, etc.) one's hand to the ploughc1384 intendc1385 pressc1390 to put oneself in pressc1390 gatherc1400 undertakec1405 sayc1425 to fall in hand with (also to do (something))c1450 setc1485 obligea1500 essay?1515 attend1523 supprise1532 to set in foot1542 enterprise1547 address1548 to set in hand1548 prove1612 to make it one's businessa1628 engage1646 embark1647 bend1694 to take hold1868 the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] fanda1225 procurea1325 assay1370 workc1384 to put oneself in pressc1390 purchasec1400 buskc1450 study1483 fend15.. try1534 enterprise1547 to make an attempt?c1550 to give the venture1589 prove1612 nixuriate1623 to lay out1659 essay1715 to bring (also carry, drive, etc.) one's pigs to market1771 to have (or take or give) a crack1836 to make an out1843 to go to market1870 to give it a burl1917 to have a bash (at)1950 the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > to do something cuneOE seekc1000 fanda1225 suec1325 tastec1330 enforcec1340 study1340 temptc1384 intendc1385 assaila1393 proffera1393 to make meansc1395 search?a1400 fraistc1400 pursuec1400 to go aboutc1405 pretend1482 attempta1513 essay?1515 attend1523 regarda1533 offer1541 frame1545 to stand about1549 to put into (also in) practice1592 prove1612 imitate1626 snap1766 begin1833 make1880 1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion To Rdr. sig. A From any example, either of Ancient, or Modern, that haue proued in this kind. a1659 F. Osborne Observ. Turks in Wks. (1673) 272 Yet he proved against this inconvenience, with as much caution as a by-past error is capable to admit. II. To demonstrate, establish. 4. To establish as true; to make certain; to demonstrate the truth of by evidence or argument.In this sense the past participle proven (originally Scottish) is often used. In Scots Law the verdict ‘Not proven’ is admitted, besides ‘Guilty’ and ‘Not guilty’, in criminal trials. a. transitive. With subordinate clause, or object and complement. ΚΠ c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 330 (MED) Ha is an hundret degrez ihehet towart heouene hwil ha meiðhad halt, as þe frut preoued [a1250 Titus preoueð]. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 56 Þet þe witnesse ne pruuie [a1250 Nero preoue] ham for ualse. c1300 St. Katherine (Laud) 98 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 95 I-chulle proui þat he ne miȝte a-liue beo. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 259 Þat ooth was i-preved untrewe. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 5385 That he not loveth, his dede proveth. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 218 (MED) Here is I-prowid that the sowle sueth the condycionys of the bodyes. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cj^v He went about also to proue hym selfe a Germayne. 1608 S. Hieron 2nd Pt. Def. Ministers Reasons 210 To prove that the devil could not foretell things contingently to come. 1645 J. Winthrop Declar. Former Passages 4 The Narrowganset Deputies did not alledge; much lesse prove, that any ransom was agreed. 1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. Introd. 2 I shall take up no Time in proving this Matter to be a Duty. 1798 Philos. Mag. 2 2 He quotes a variety of observations made on these phenomena; from which he endeavours to prove that they do not arise from an accumulation of the matter of the aurora borealis. 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) xii. 128 The account book would be..open to the inspection of all who could prove themselves to belong to the Union. 1885 Law Times Rep. 53 60/2 The plaintiff and the surveyor proved that the I.C.U. carried proper lights. 1931 C. Kelly U.S. Postal Policy iv. 81 How little he understood the will of the American people is proven by their unyielding demand for this service. 1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four i. iv. 42 In no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done, to prove that any falsification had taken place. 1991 Gay Times Mar. 7/1 They never proved that I had engaged in homosexual activities but they eventually threw me out of the Royal Navy, simply because I was gay. b. transitive. With simple object. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > prosper or be successful speed993 achievec1300 provec1300 edifya1400 chevise14.. exploit1477 cottonc1560 fadge1611 through1675 to make the riffle1853 arrive1889 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] speedc1175 fayc1300 provec1300 flourishc1400 passc1425 prosper1434 succeedc1450 to take placea1464 to come well to (our) pass1481 shift?1533 hitc1540 walka1556 fadge1573 thrive1587 work1599 to come (good) speedc1600 to go off1608 sort1613 go1699 answer1721 to get along1768 to turn up trumps1785 to come off1854 pan1865 scour1871 arrive1889 to work out1899 to ring the bell1900 to go over1907 click1916 happen1949 the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (intransitive)] > be proved to be provec1300 verifya1387 approve1587 improve1612 bear1710 to turn up1756 to turn out1780 wash1849 c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 1008 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 135 He..hath i-broke is oth, And þat man wel proui on him. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 345 As it fil afterward þe soþe was i-preoved. 1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 4 Any thyng agayne þe kynge's pease þat myght be proved apon hym lawfully. c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame 807 Whoso seyth of trouthe I varye, Bid hym proven the contrarye. 1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Hvj^v An example, is a manner of Argumentation, where one thyng is proued by an other. 1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 33 If they should be forced to proove descent. 1681 J. Flavell Method of Grace ix. 186 A thousand witnesses cannot prove any point more clearly than one testimony of conscience doth. 1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. i. 143 Our Ignorance of these Reasons proves nothing in the Case. ?1790 J. Imison School of Arts (ed. 2) 149 The incompressibility of water, proved by the Florentine experiment. 1844 E. B. Barrett Lady Geraldine's Courtship in Poems I. 237 When my footstep proved my coming. 1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 131 Even though the points had been proven, there was no indictable offence. 1905 N. Munro Vital Spark's Collision in Para Handy (1997) lxxxiii. 347 The charge was found not proven. 1972 M. Kline Math. Thought xxv. 605 Ruffini used but did not prove the auxiliary theorem, now known as Abel's theorem. 1996 Jrnl. Mod. Greek Stud. 14 253 Most of the scholarship surrounding the Macedonian Question is strongly partisan, with opposing sides attempting to prove the righteousness of their own beliefs. c. transitive. to fend and prove: see fend v. 2. d. transitive. to prove too much: (of an argument) to use a proposition or mode of reasoning that can be shown to imply conclusions that are false or contrary to what the user of the argument maintains; to be pursued too far; (of a person) to make such an argument. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward for discussion [verb (intransitive)] > reach untenable conclusion to prove too much1791 1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. ii. 315 The same degree of Kinred will be apt to love the same man, and so emulation will arise... But because this proves too much, it proves nothing at all. For upon the same account, a young man should not marry in a family where there are many daughters. 1771 in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxiii. 294 Our adversaries would fain reduce us to the difficulty of proving too much. 1791 J. Mackintosh Vindiciæ Gallicæ iv. 215 Such reasoning will prove too much, and..taken in its proper extent, it impeaches the great system of morals, of which political principles form only a part. 1801 T. Jefferson Let. 9 Sept. in Writings (1984) 1092 It may be objected that this proves too much, as it proves you cannot enter the ship of a friend to search for contraband of war. 1870 J. H. Newman Ess. Gram. Assent vi. 153 The theory to which I have referred cannot be carried out in practice. It may be rightly said to prove too much. 1901 Econ. Jrnl. 11 583 That is an assumption which would prove too much. If it is true of any country,..there is no reason why it should not be true of a province or district. 1945 H. G. Hayes Spending, Saving & Employm. xvii. 240 Mr. Lippmann cites no cases of this. But anyway he proves too much. 2003 Virginia Law Rev. 89 99 This analogy proves too much. The United States stands in a vastly different relation to the several states as it does to Spain. 5. a. transitive. To show the existence or reality of; to give demonstration or proof of by action; to evince. Usually with object modified by possessive adjective: to demonstrate (some quality or condition possessed by the subject). ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] i-sothea925 soothec950 fanda1000 kitheOE betell1048 showc1175 prove?c1225 treousec1275 stablisha1325 approve1340 verifyc1386 justifya1393 tryc1412 answer?a1425 appreve?c1450 to make gooda1470 convictc1475 averifyc1503 arguea1513 find1512 pree1515 comprobate1531 demonstrate1538 conclude1549 convince1555 argument1558 evict1571 avoucha1593 evidencea1601 remonstrate1601 clear1605 attaint1609 monstrate1609 evince1610 evince1611 improve1613 remonstrance1621 to make out1653 ascertain1670 to bring off1674 to make (something) to through1675 render1678 substantiatea1691 establisha1704 to bring out1727 realize1763 validate1775 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 286 Iesu..com to pruuen hisluue. & schaude þurch cnichtschipe. þet he wes luuewurðe. c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 545 (MED) Mid spere ischal furst ride & mi kniȝthod proue. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 13 (MED) He aros uram dyaþe..and sseawede him to his deciples and ham prouede his arizinge. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 71 Thydir woll we draw in all goodly haste to preve oure worship and prouesse uppon hym. c1480 (a1400) St. Theodora 186 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 104 Scho went on to pref hir arte. a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 3476 No man shall eschef Frome yhow this day, his manhed for to pref. 1656 Duchess of Newcastle True Relation in Natures Pictures 383 His Loyaltie is proved..by his necessitated Condition. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 125 Ev'ry Knight is proud to prove his Worth. View more context for this quotation 1721 G. Roussillon tr. Abbé de Vertot Hist. Revol. Portugal 136 The King..was for bringing half the prostitutes of Lisbon to prove his virility. 1796 M. Hays Mem. E. Courtney II. xvii. 151 I tried to smile, and exerted my spirits, to prove my grateful sensibility of his kindness. 1820 Sporting Mag. 7 xi. 330 ‘Prove thy strength, my son, in the name of God!’ said the preacher. 1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 2 They should prove their love of him whom they had not seen, by love of their brothers whom they had seen. 1910 J. C. Lawson Mod. Greek Folklore & Anc. Greek Relig. 89 A woman..who by her dealings with mankind has proved her real and divine puissance. 1993 Guardian 11 Sept. (Weekend Suppl.) 25/5 The young man needs to prove his love by killing somebody for his bubbleheaded girl. b. transitive (reflexive). reflexive with adjective, noun, or infinitive as complement. Of a person or thing: to demonstrate oneself, itself to be something; to show oneself by trial, action, or experience to be the thing specified. ΚΠ 1531 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. II. 216 I..wyll prove myselff, though the powrest,..yet not the vnassurest or vntrustiest of your frends. 1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. lxv. sig. T5 The Macedonian proued himselfe a better Physician for calumny, by his bounties; then his Philosophers, by their gray advisements. 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 13 I would rather prove my self to be a Gentleman, by being learned and humble,..then by a fond ostentation of riches. View more context for this quotation 1712 A. Pope Corr. 5 Dec. (1956) I. 161 You have proved yourself more tender of another's embryos than the fondest mothers are of their own. 1777 W. Pitt in Parliamentary Hist. Eng. (1814) XIX. 490 General Washington proved himself three times an abler general than [Sir] William Howe. 1803 Censor 1 Aug. 93 He should sound her maid, who..will prove herself a very Mercury in delivering the letters that may be entrusted to her on either side. 1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd II. vi. iii. 260 He proved himself a clever diplomatical. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ii. 32 The pony..proved himself a good one, running very stout and fast. 1920 Contemp. Rev. Dec. 882 It proved itself to be a mere bureaucratization of distribution. 1965 K. Tynan Let. 21 Sept. (1994) v. 325 He joined our company in January and has already proved himself a brilliant and inventive farceur. 2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 10 Mar. b10/4 Sarah soon proves herself a supremely unfit mother. 6. a. intransitive. With adverb or adverbial phrase as complement. To turn out in a specified way (as badly, otherwise, etc.). †to prove well: to turn out well; to thrive, succeed (obsolete; in later use regional). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > result [verb (intransitive)] > turn out > in a specific manner gangOE provec1300 goc1425 comea1527 succeed1533 sort1592 to come out1842 issue1855 c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 2365 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 174 Þe kingus sone þare-after-ward prouede vuele i-novȝ, And wel longe bi-fore þe fadere toward þe deþe he drouȝ. a1325 St. Blaise (Corpus Cambr.) 81 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 49 (MED) Proui it ssel þe bet wiþ him & al þat comeþ to. 1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) 146 This matere..was kepte off, as a kalendere, off experte men, off the dysposycion off the yere folwyng afftyr Crystemes day, qwydyr y[t] schuld preue fayr or foule. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xxvi. 39 Orpyne proueth wel in moyst shadowy places. 1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xvi. 290 Such mariages seldom or neuer proue wel. 1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 79 Ships which have proved as well at sea, as those that are made in Spain. 1695 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) III. 482 Engineer Richards has proved the..new invented mortars, which proved to admiration. 1704 T. Baker Act at Oxf. iv. ii. 42 If they [sc. the children] shou'dn't prove well, 'twou'd be the breaking of both their Hearts. 1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §82 We..lay there to..be the more ready in case the weather should be then in our favour; but it proving otherwise, we returned to Plymouth. 1856 W. Whitman Leaves of Grass (new ed.) 229 Philosophies and religions..may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds. 1886 C. Scott Pract. Sheep-farming 157 Breeders are beginning to understand that it is to their interest to have their sheep prove well. 1934 Chron.-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 10 May 2/2 Threatening adversaries with a knife proved badly for John Krorak. 1991 Guardian (Nexis) 26 Jan. It should have been an easy business, but it is proving otherwise. b. intransitive. To prosper, thrive; to succeed. regional in later use. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by good growth > grow well or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > grow well or flourish growc725 thrivec1175 flourish1303 provec1330 encrec1420 delighta1475 prosper1535 addle1570 fortify1605 ramp1607 luxuriate1621 succeed1812 c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 2671 (MED) So mot ich proue, and y the, Y wend mi lord it hadde ybe. c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1212 Ye shul se wel thanne How that oure bisynesse shal thryue and preue. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 415 Provyn, or chevyn, prosperor. c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 2144 (MED) But, without a party, hir cause myȝt nat preff. ?1536 R. Copland Hye Way to Spyttell Hous sig. D.i Inholders that lodge hoores and theues Seldon theyr getyng ony way preues. 1543 Act 35 Hen. VIII c. 17 §1 Standils or Storers, likely to prove and to be Timber-trees. 1604 E. Hake No Gold, No Goodnesse in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign James I (1848) 255 Nothing proves where gold is skant. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 376 All the Eggs laid under one Hen do not always prove. 1716 Worlidge's Compl. Syst. Husbandry & Gardening vii. 206 The Poplar..will prove and thrive wonderfully, especially if the ground be any whit inclined to moisture. 1886 W. Barnes Gloss. Dorset Dial. 89 Prove. To fatten, to gain flesh. 1996 in R. Allsopp Dict. Caribbean Eng. Usage (at cited word) She bring up three nephews and every one o them prove. †c. intransitive. to prove well: to be well seen, to be evident. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > manifestation > [verb (intransitive)] seem1340 to prove wellc1387 showa1393 appearc1400 to stare (a person) in the face1510 sparkle1597 shinea1616 transpear1645 relate1663 it is visible1693 to speak out1846 notice1961 society > communication > manifestation > [verb (intransitive)] > slightly to prove wellc1387 peep1579 smell1837 to come through1868 c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 547 The Miller was a stout carl for the nones..That proued wel, for ouer al ther he cam, At wrastlynge he wolde haue alwey the ram. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 580 He is a grete enemy of all good knyghtes. And [that] prevyth well, for he hath chased oute of that contrey sir Trystram. c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iv. 88 (MED) Some parled as perte, as prouyd well after. d. intransitive. With adjective, noun, or infinitive as complement. To show oneself or itself to be (something); to turn out to be, to be shown or found by experience or trial to be (the thing specified). Sometimes with reflexive object implied: cf. sense 5b. ΚΠ c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 704 (MED) Wel nyȝe pure paradys moȝt preve no better. a1449 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) ii. 101 (MED) Which offence preveth to be done by the consent of some of the saide Comminalte. 1552 T. Wilson Rule of Reason (rev. ed.) sig. Tviij A ragged colte maie proue a good horse. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. xi. sig. L3^v If old sawes proue true. View more context for this quotation 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 83 One accident, that might have proved of great consequence. a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 65 For Things said false, and never meant, Do oft prove true by accident. 1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. vi. 25/2 A New Ship,..so walty, that the Master..often said she would prove their Grave. 1769 W. Buchan Domest. Med. ii. 339 When the disease proves violent. 1823 W. Scoresby Jrnl. Voy. Northern Whale-fishery 107 The land..nearest to us was Wollaston Foreland, which, by my late surveys, proves to lie in latitude 74° 25′. 1870 J. Tyndall Lect. Electr. 1 This gas when collected proves to have the specific gravity of hydrogen. 1920 A. Carnegie Autobiogr. x. 138 This forty-thousand-dollar investment proved for us the best of all so far. 1942 E. Waugh Put out More Flags (1943) iii. 141 Susie was proving a disappointment... She still seemed to prefer Colonel Plum. 1988 F. Weldon Leader of Band iii. 14 Those benefits..prove to be no use to me at all. 2005 Independent 9 July 45/1 Hybrids, pioneered by Toyota and Honda, have proved a huge hit on the US coasts. †e. intransitive. With complement. To come to be, become (something), grow to be. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > change [verb (intransitive)] > pass into state, become yworthOE worthOE goOE becomec1175 come?a1200 waxc1220 charea1225 aworthc1275 makea1300 fallc1300 breedc1325 grow1340 strikea1375 yern1377 entera1382 turna1400 smitec1400 raxa1500 resolvea1500 to get into ——?1510 waxen1540 get1558 prove1560 proceed1578 befall1592 drop1654 evade1677 emerge1699 to turn out1740 to gain into1756 permute1864 slip1864 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. iij This Thomas..went..after to Paris, and proued best learned of al men in his time [L. inter sui temporis uiros doctos principem locum obtinuit]. 1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 136 Neither..will other races in that soile proue blacke. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 120 To Birds their Native Heav'ns contagious prove, From Clouds they fall, and leave their Souls above. View more context for this quotation 1842 Ld. Tennyson Lord of Burleigh in Poems (new ed.) II. 204 Then her countenance all over Pale again as death did prove. †7. transitive. To pronounce (something) to be good or right, to commend; = approve v.¹ 6a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > approve of, accept, or sanction [verb (transitive)] loveeOE underfoc1000 underfong?c1225 undertakea1250 provec1300 allowa1325 favour1340 approvec1380 seem?c1450 conprovec1503 avow1530 rectify1567 annuate1585 to be for1590 sancite1597 improve1603 applauda1616 acclamate1624 resenta1646 own1649 comprobate1660 sanction1797 likea1825 approbate1833 to hold with (arch. of, on, for)1895 agree1900 endorse1914 condone1962 c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 196 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 59 (MED) To þe pope Innocent..he bad graunti is Religion..A[n]t þat he scholde is ordre preouen and is Revle al-so. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 337 Kyng William his dedes..beeþ worþy to be i-preved. a1400 (?a1325) Medit. on Supper of our Lord (Harl.) (1875) 18 Y wyl no þyng seye But þat ys preued by crystes feye. c1475 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1974) 171 (MED) That that he prouueth is alloude, exalted, and vnpunisshid. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 4942 Part of þat pepull prouyt hit for wit. 1545 T. Forster Disc. in P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) III. 33 He thinketh that that adventure would be proved; for he saith..the cardinal is..smally beloved in Scotland. 8. a. transitive. Law. To establish the genuineness and validity of (a will); to obtain probate of. ΘΚΠ society > law > transfer of property > testamentary disposition > bequeath by will [verb (transitive)] > affirm validity of will provec1436 probate1720 establish1806 c1436 Domesday Ipswich (BL Add. 25011) in T. Twiss Black Bk. Admiralty (1873) II. 73 (MED) The executoures of the dede be malice or by collusyon willen not preven the testament. 1473 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 467 Neuerthelesse, plese yow to weet þat I have provyd my fadres wyll and testement. 1521 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 120 Item in expenses..o^r the will cowd be proved. 1616 B. Jonson Epicœne v. iii, in Wks. I. 594 You can proue a Will, master Doctor, you can proue nothing else. View more context for this quotation 1659 T. Fuller Appeal Iniured Innocence i. 43 Wills..are proved in the Court-Christian, which evidenceth something of Ecclesiasticalness in them. 1726 S. Sewall Diary 28 Mar. (1973) II. 1044 I prov'd Elder Preston's Will. 1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 31 The will is to be proved, and administration is to be taken. 1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 182 He cannot so disclaim after he has proved the will of his own testator. 1885 Whitaker's Almanack 421 One [executor] alone is competent to prove a will and carry out its provisions. 1958 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Jan. 14 The will of John House, dated at Hebron, Ct., the 5th. August 1797, and proved the 9th. August 1805. 1987 ‘B. Vine’ Fatal Inversion (BNC) 54 The will would have to be proved, but..why shouldn't he and his wife and Bridget use the Hall regularly at weekends? 2000 Times (Nexis) 11 July Even if it was left to him, the executor would not usually have been able to touch the account without first proving the will. †b. transitive. gen. To establish the genuineness or validity of (a person or thing); to show to be such as is asserted or claimed. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] > be proof of > in line with assertion prove1517 showa1530 convince1595 approvea1680 1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 41 The holy crosse was provyd by resyng of a Dede man. 1531 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Court of Requests (1898) 33 Your seid Orator hath noo especyaltie ne wrytyng prouyng the seid contracte. 1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. iii. 365 It is very hard to prove a Witch. 1866 J. M. Neale Sequences & Hymns 89 If the purple proves the King. c. transitive (reflexive). To evince proof of (oneself as having ability or prowess); to show oneself to be able, courageous, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (reflexive)] approve1559 verifyc1595 prove1895 1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage ii. 18 He finally concluded that the only way to prove himself was to go into the blaze. 1917 H. T. Comstock Man thou Gavest 300 I done told Burke I—I was going to prove myself. 1959 J. Barzun House of Intellect v. 126 They also considered it unjust that it should take ten or a dozen years of not especially agreeable work to prove oneself in a profession. 1973 Times 1 Dec. 13/6 You have to prove yourself to your father, don't you? 1997 J-17 June 49/1 I drew the stone of Ur which means a chance to prove oneself. It's clear you have to face up to this fear and overcome it. d. transitive. to have something to prove and variants: to need to succeed because of doubts about one's ability; to feel that one has such a need, because of a sense of inferiority. ΚΠ 1963 Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Daily Jrnl. 25 July 15/8 I've got nothing to prove against a team like the Packers. 1980 Times 30 July 10/4 After leaving Sussex under a cloud four years ago, he has something to prove. 2002 M. McGrath Silvertown (2003) i. 4 Fuelled by the frantic energy of immigrants with something to prove, they evolved quite naturally into entrepreneurs. 2006 Chicago Sun Times (Nexis) 4 Apr. A7 He knows he can play and that he doesn't have anything to prove. Phrasal verbs With adverbs in specialized senses. to prove out Originally U.S. transitive. To establish (something) as successful or workable; (also) to test (a system or process) exhaustively. Also intransitive: to be established as successful or workable. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > test [verb (intransitive)] > undergo test > with specific result > be confirmed by testing to prove out1959 the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] > exhaustively to prove out1964 1905 Federal Reporter 135 994 He said that he had ‘sold the coal, provided the test well proved out satisfactory.’ 1959 Wall St. Jrnl. 13 May 14/2 Fishermen are pondering the commercial possibilities of pollock... If pollock proves out, the trawlers could stay closer to U.S. shores. 1964 D. F. Galouye Counterfeit World xii. 98 Of all the metaphysical concepts..mine was the only one open to final verification. It could be proved out conclusively. 1972 Daily Tel. 10 Nov. (Colour Suppl.) 10/1 A duration of 50 to 60 hours was required really to prove out the plane. 1993 Sci. Amer. Sept. 16/3 There are lots of valuable things out there... I'm optimistic some of them will prove out. 2000 M. de Villiers Water (new ed.) iv. xvi. 277 The science proves out. The specific gravity difference..is enough to keep us on the surface. to prove up 1. transitive. North American. To complete the proof of right to (something); spec. to show that one has fulfilled the legal conditions for taking up (a grant of government land), so that a patent may be issued. Also intransitive. Now chiefly historical. ΘΚΠ society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > [verb (transitive)] > prove right to possession to prove up1833 1833 B. W. Miller Rep. Supreme Court Louisiana 4 548 The register testified, that Welsh filed his notice to enter the land in contest, the 12th of July, 1830; that a commission issued from his office in February, 1830, to take testimony to prove up plaintiffs' claim under the act of 1814. 1857 Lawrence (Kansas Territory) Republican 28 May 2/5 A man buying a claim with a house already on it, must himself erect one before he can prove up and take the duplicate for his land. 1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds ii. 43 My wife proved up on her Cherokee blood. 1892 Harper's Mag. June 95/2 As they ‘prove up’ those claims in the fulness of time, each will get her one hundred dollars. 1911 J. F. Wilson Land Claimers 140 He's going to prove up in April. 1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 11 Mar. 12/5 Proved up, with hard work, a wild and forest covered homestead. 1969 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 16 Nov. 12/2 Mr. James Foulds, widower, proved up on his homestead..in 1910 or thereabouts. 1992 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 27 Dec. 16/1 In North Dakota, most homesteaders failed to remain on their land after ‘proving up’ a claim. 2004 R. S. Wheeler Bounty Trail 62 He knew which mining claims were patented. Most weren't. They had yet to be proved up. 2. transitive. Mining (originally North American). = sense 1f. Also intransitive: (of a deposit of coal, ore, etc.) to be ascertained to have a particular position and extent. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > mining > mine [verb (transitive)] > examine prove1839 to prove up1853 1853 Harper's Mag. Mar. 444/1 Copper mining is..in its infancy, and all that has as yet been done is hardly more..than may be expressed by the phrase, common among the miners, of ‘proving up’ the veins. 1917 Federal Reporter 241 438 There was ore underneath this Weyerhaeuser 80... It was proved up on both sides and known to be there. 1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 13 Oct. 2/4 Several claims staked up and down the channel from the discovery have proved up in a similar manner. 1977 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Jan. 42/1 It frequently takes as much as 10 to 12 years from an initial discovery to prove up a viable mine, arrange finance and forward sales-contracts. 2001 K. Krajick Barren Lands (2002) xx. 380 Finally, north of the Sloan Ranch, he proved up a minor diamond pipe. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.?1541v.a1200
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† proven.

provev.

Phrasal verbs