probatio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [prɔˈbaː.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [proˈbat.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

probātiō f (genitive probātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin probō (“to test, approve”) + -tiō, from probus “good”.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨probus⟩ “good, upright” to Proto-Italic ⟨*pro-f(w)-o-⟩ “favourable”, from ⟨*pro-⟩ and Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to be”), cognate with Umbrian ⟨prufe⟩ “correctly” and Oscan ⟨prúfatted⟩ “approved”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot cites Varro and Cicero, and the OLD's earliest citations are Cicero.^[4][2] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a trial, inspection, examination, as of athletes in Cicero; approval after scrutiny, passing; in Pliny a test, criterion, and the proving of something, proof; and in Seneca that which proves, evidence.^[2][6][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means test, trial, probation, proof, approval.^[7] English probation and German Probation are from it.^[5]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a trial.^[4][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of inspection and approval.^[2][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of a test and of proof.^[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A trial, inspection, examination.^[6][4]
2. Approval.^[2]
3. A test, criterion.^[2]
4. Proof, evidence.^[2]
5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Probation.^[7]

Related words

• probō
• probus
• probātor
• English probation

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson