provare Italian · revision 37721

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1243, Guido Faba|origins=la probus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /proˈva.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''provare''' (first-person singular present pròvo, first-person singular past historic provài, past participle provàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Older Italian also conjugated the stressed forms with the Tuscan diphthong, ''io pruovo''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010) The infinitive ''pruovare'' and the noun ''pruova'' appear in Dante and Cavalca.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(Prati 1951|808)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|probō|t=to approve, test, prove]], a verb formed from the adjective [[m|la|probus|t=good, upright]], so that it first meant “to find good, to approve”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The same verb is [[fr|prouver]], [[oc|proar]], [[ca|proar]], [[es|probar]] and [[pt|provar]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ De Vaan traces the Latin adjective to [[itc-pro|*profo-|t=favourable]], which he reconstructs as [[ine-pro|*pro-bʰuH-o-]], a compound of the preverb ⟨*pro-⟩ “forward” with the root of “to be, grow”;^(de Vaan 2008) Oscan and Umbrian have related forms, and [[sa|प्रभु|tr=prabhú|t=excelling]] is built on the same elements.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ The noun [[prova]] “test, proof” is formed from the verb with no suffix.^(DELI 1999) [[provetta]] “test tube” was modelled on [[fr|éprouvette]].^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Guido Faba, who died before 1243, in the sense “to find out by one or more trials the qualities of a thing or the abilities of a person”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) GDLI quotes him on testing a gem: “Ago che la gemma se debia provare e mostrare la sua clarità per esperienzia de verità” (that the gem should be tested and show its clearness by true experience).^(GDLI|14, 772)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to show by proofs that a fact is true” is recorded before 1292 in Bono Giamboni, and “to put to the test” at the end of the 13th century in the Italian version of Vegetius, where the reflexive ''provarsi'' also means “to train oneself”.^(DELI 1999) The noun ''prova'' is as old as the verb: it is found in the 13th century for a trial and for an ordeal, before 1294 in Brunetto Latini for a piece of evidence, in 1561 for the proof of a calculation, and in 1804 for a rehearsal;^(DELI 1999) ''prova generale'' “dress rehearsal” is recorded in 1841.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The colloquial ''provarci'' means to have a go, and also to make a pass at someone.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) Later derivatives include ''provino'' (1835 for a distiller's test glass, 1871 for a dance rehearsal, now a screen test) and ''provetta'' “test tube” (1917–1927).^(DELI 1999) Prati explains the cheese names ''provatura'' (16th century) and ''provola'' as cheeses that were first a “trial” of the curd, while Meyer-Lübke left their meaning unexplained.^(Prati 1951|808)^(REW 1935) Esperanto borrowed the verb as ''provi''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1243 – Guido Faba uses ''provare'' for testing the qualities of something.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for proving the truth of a fact.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Late 13th century – The Italian Vegetius has “to put to the test” and reflexive “to train oneself”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1561 – ''Prova'' is used for the proof of a calculation.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1804 – ''Prova'' “rehearsal” is recorded by D'Alberti.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1841 – ''Prova generale'' “dress rehearsal” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1917–1927 – ''Provetta'' “test tube” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|test]] or try out a thing to see its qualities or whether it works; also to try on clothes or shoes, to taste a food, or to take someone on trial: ''Prima di comprarla, prova la bicicletta.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To [[m|en|attempt]], to try to do something (with ''a'' and the infinitive): ''Ho provato a chiamarti due volte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|experience]] something oneself; to feel a sensation or emotion: ''Non ha mai provato la paura.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To put someone to a hard test; to wear out, weaken: ''Il viaggio l'ha molto provato.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # To [[m|en|prove]], to show with evidence that something is true: ''Non puoi provare quello che dici.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(theatre)'' To [[m|en|rehearse]] a show, scene or piece of music, also without an object.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(colloquial, provarci)'' To have a go; to make a pass at someone.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prova]]

+ * [[provato]]

+ * [[provetta]]

+ * [[provino]]

+ * [[provatura]]

+ * [[provabile]]

+ * [[comprovare]]

+ * [[riprovare]]

+ * [[riprova]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[probo]]

+ * [[approvare]]

+ * [[probante]]

+ * [[probatorio]]

+ * [[la|probus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}