PROBATION

noun Etymology: Middle English probacioun, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ~, from Latin ~-, probatio, from probare Date: 15th century critical examination and evaluation or subjection to such examination and evaluation, 2. subjection of an individual to a period of testing and trial to ascertain fitness (as for a job or school), the action of suspending the sentence of a convicted offender and giving the offender freedom during good behavior under the supervision of a ~ officer, the state or a period of being subject to ~, ~al adjective ~ally adverb ~ary adjective