proof English · revision 3878

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la probāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pruːf/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|preove]], later prōf,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|xno|preove]], Old French proeve, prueve “proof, test, experience” (modern French preuve),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-lat|proba|t=a proof]], a back-formation from [[m|la|probāre|t=to test, prove]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The change of vowel from preve to prof in late Middle English was due to the influence of the verb [[prove]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) and the change of v to f followed the loss of final e, as in belief beside believe.^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[probe]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ That which proves a statement; evidence: about 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) before 1225 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “The act of proving” is from the early 14th century, and “the act of testing” from the late 14th century, under the influence of the verb.^(Etymonline) In ''the proof of the pudding is in the eating'' (1708), proof is in the sense “test”;^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline) ''the proof is in the pudding'' (1915) is a curious perversion of it.^(Etymonline) The typographical trial impression is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) the standard strength of distilled liquor from 1705, from the notion of having been tested,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and a coin struck to test a die from 1762.^(Etymonline) The adjective, “of tested strength”, first of armour, is from 1592, in Shakespeare's ''proof against'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) probably by ellipsis of the preposition in ''armour of proof''.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) It forms compounds such as ''fireproof'' (before 1638), ''waterproof'' (1736), ''bulletproof'' (1824) and ''soundproof'' (1884).^(Barnhart 1988) The verb “to test” is from 1834,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “to make impervious” from 1885,^(OED 1989) and “to proofread” from 1950.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – evidence.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – the act of proving.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – a printer's proof.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1592 – adjective, ''proof against''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1705 – the strength of spirits.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1708 – ''the proof of the pudding''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – verb, to test.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1950 – to proofread.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[evidence]] or argument that compels acceptance of something as true.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In mathematics and logic, a demonstration of the validity of a [[proposition]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The act of testing; a trial.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A trial print, as of type, for correction.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The alcoholic strength of a liquor relative to a standard.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Able to resist; [[impervious]], often in compounds: ''waterproof''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of standard alcoholic strength.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Used in proving or testing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a proof of; to [[proofread]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To make resistant: ''to proof a fabric''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To activate [[yeast]] or make dough rise.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[proofer]]

+ * [[-proof]]

+ * [[high-proof]]

+ * [[actor-proof]]

+ * [[airproof]]

+ * [[bombproof]]

+ * [[bulletproof]]

+ * [[burglarproof]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[probe]]

+ * [[prove]]

+ * [[probate]]

+ * [[probation]]

+ * [[approve]]

+ * [[reprove]]

+ * [[probable]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}