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improbo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word improbo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (probus)

Pronunciation

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

Forms

improbō (present infinitive improbāre, perfect active improbāvī, supine improbātum); first conjugation[1] It is also spelled inprobō.[2]

Etymology

The OLD derives it from improbus “bad, wicked” with the verb suffix ⟨-ō⟩, and Wiktionary and Lewis & Short take it as in- “not” with probō “to approve”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of things, and Ennius, of persons.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to disapprove of, object to, condemn, reject, officially or otherwise, both things, as in Plautus, and people, as in Ennius.[2] Lewis & Short call it classical and give culpō and vituperō as synonyms.[3]

It survives in Italian improbare and Spanish improbar.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of things.[2][4]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of people.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To disapprove of, condemn, reject.[2]

Word family

  • improbātiō
  • improbātor
  • improbitō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Improbo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/improbo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·