pro English · revision 3051

+ English has two words spelled ''pro'': “for, in favor”, from Latin prō, as in ''pros and cons'', and the short form of [[professional]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /prəʊ/, US /proʊ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|in favor}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la prō}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The word meaning “in favor” is [[inh|enm|pro]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la|prō|t=for, on behalf of, before, in place of]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) which is related to [[per]] and prae and to Latin prior and prīmus;^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline takes it to [[ine-pro|*per-|t=forward, in front of]].^(Etymonline) The adverb is abstracted from pro and contra “for and against”, New Latin prō et contrā.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A reason or argument in favor: probably about 1400,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the 15th century in Merriam-Webster;^(MWU 2024) ''pro and contra'' is from probably before 1430.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Pro and con'' is short for pro and contra;^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) called it “despicable cant”.^(Johnson 1755) The adverb, “in favor”, is from 1572,^(Barnhart 1988) and the preposition, “in favor of, for”, from 1817.^(MWU 2024) The noun also names a person who supports a proposal or argues the affirmative side.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986) Many Latin phrases with pro are used in English, such as ''pro rata'' (1354 in the OED), ''pro forma'' (1573–80) and ''pro bono publico'' (before 1726).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – noun, an argument in favor.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1430 – ''pro and contra''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1572 – adverb, in favor.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1817 – preposition, in favor of.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[argument]] or consideration in favor of something: ''the pros and cons''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person who supports a proposal or takes the affirmative side.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In favor; affirmatively: ''arguments pro and con''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # In favor of; for.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pro and con]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|professional}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1866}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The short word for a professional is a clipping of [[professional]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A professional, especially in sport: 1866, in the magazine ''Sporting Life'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in Merriam-Webster 1856.^(MWU 2024) At Oxford University ''pro'' was earlier short for pro-proctor, from 1848.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective is attested by 1915 in the golfing ''pro shop'', a shop run by the resident professional at a club,^(Etymonline) from 1905 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and as a general adjective from 1932, also in sport.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Sports writers used ''proette'' for a female professional golfer from 1968,^(Etymonline) and ''professional'' was also used of prostitutes.^(Etymonline) A person very experienced in some activity is an ''old pro''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1848 – short for pro-proctor.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1866 – a professional.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1905 – ''pro shop''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1932 – adjective, professional.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[professional]], especially a professional [[athlete]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' A person with long experience of something: ''an old pro''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(informal)'' Professional: ''pro football''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[proette]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pro-]]

+ * [[con]]

+ * [[contra]]

+ * [[professional]]

+ * [[per]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The prefix [[pro-]] has its own entry.^(MWU 2024) ''PRO'' is also an abbreviation for public relations officer and, in Britain, the Public Record Office.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}