PROBATE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English probat, from Latin probatum, neuter of probatus, past participle of probare Date: 15th century 1. the action or process of proving before a competent judicial authority that a document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will and testament of a deceased person is genuine, the judicial determination of the validity of a will, the officially authenticated copy of a ~d will, II. transitive verb (~d; probating) Date: 1570 to establish (a will) by ~ as genuine and valid, to put (a convicted offender) on probation