probatus

Forms

probātus (feminine probāta, neuter probātum, comparative probātior, superlative probātissimus); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is the participle of probō (“to approve, test”), used as an adjective.^[1][2][3] The verb is from probus (“good, upright”), which de Vaan derives from Proto-Italic *pro-f(w)-o- (“favourable”) and Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰ(h₂)u-o-, cognate with Sanskrit प्रभु (prabhú, “excelling”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest quotation is Accius: “to be approved by the good rather than by the many”.^[1]

Semantic evolution

It is regarded with approval, of good repute or esteemed, as Cicero's steady and esteemed life and his orator who is not only acceptable but approved.^[1] With a dative it is acceptable or pleasing to someone, as in an old prayer quoted by Macrobius asking that the city be more acceptable to the gods.^[1]

In medieval Latin it is “worthy of credit”.^[5]

Timeline

• 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of being approved by the good.^[1][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero of an esteemed life and an approved orator.^[1][3]
• 1st half of the 5th century AD – Macrobius quotes an old prayer.^[1][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Approved, of good repute, esteemed.^[1][2]
2. Acceptable, pleasing to.^[1]
3. (Medieval Latin) Worthy of credit, trustworthy.^[5]

Related words

• probō
• probus
• probābilis
• probātiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill