Etymologically
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comprobo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:48. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔm.prɔ.boː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔm.pro.bo][1]

Forms

comprobō (present infinitive comprobāre, perfect active comprobāvī, supine comprobātum); first conjugation[1] Also spelled conprobō.[2]

Etymology

It is from con- “wholly” and probō “to approve, prove”, from probus “good”.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨probus⟩ to Proto-Italic *pro-f(w)-o- (“favourable”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of bearing out a person's integrity.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bear out, confirm, justify, as in Plautus; to prove the truth of, confirm, as in Cicero; to accept as true; and to express approval, approve, as in Cicero's tuam sententiam comprobō “I approve your opinion”.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to prove, approve, establish.[6] It survives in Italian comprovare and Spanish comprobar.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of proving and approving.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To bear out, confirm, justify.[2]
  2. To prove.[2]
  3. To accept as true; to approve.[2]

Word family

  • comprobātiō
  • comprobātor

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson