Etymologically
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probatio

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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]

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