probe

Forms

probē (comparative probius, superlative probissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin probus (“good, upright”) + -ē, the adverb of the adjective.^[2][1] De Vaan traces probus to Proto-Italic *profo- (“favourable”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰ(h₂)u-o-, a compound of “forward” and the root “to be, grow”.^[3] Cognate with Umbrian prufe (“correctly”), Oscan amprufid (“incorrectly”) and Sanskrit प्रभु (pra-bhú-, “excelling, excellent”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first example in the OLD is Plautus' “see that you write it plainly and properly”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means in a way worthy of approval, correctly or well, and of rites and legal acts validly or properly, as in Livy's “if the man who has been devoted dies, the thing seems duly done”.^[2] Of conduct it is respectably or decently: Tacitus says of a man who acted in mimes that he did it more skilfully than decently.^[2] From “well” it also came to mean thoroughly, as Plautus' gold “so well hidden” that nobody will find it, and in conversation it answers a question, “certainly”, with haud probe “not really”.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of writing properly and of a well-hidden treasure.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it as an answer, “certainly”.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a duly performed rite.^[2][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus of decent conduct.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Well, rightly, properly, correctly.^[2][5][1]
2. In due form, validly; respectably, decently.^[2]
3. Thoroughly, very well; as an answer, certainly;^[2] haud probe, not really.^[2]

Related words

• probus
• probō
• improbus

References

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