ˈprüv verb
( proved ; proved -vd ; or prov·en -vən ; proving ; proves )
Etymology: Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probare to test, prove, from probus good, from pro- before, forward + -bus (from the root of fui I have been) — more at pro- , be
transitive verb
1. archaic : to know by trial : experience , suffer
be my love and we will all the pleasures prove — Christopher Marlowe
2.
a. : to test the quality of : try out
prove all things; hold fast that which is good — 1 Thess 5:21 (Authorized Version)
b. : to subject to a technical testing process : ascertain (as by analysis or experiment) conformity with a standard or with stipulated requirements
prove coal
prove gold
prove a new weapon
prove a meter
prove a new car model
c. : proof 1a — often used with up
decided to draw and prove up a small section — Publishers' Weekly
d. : to determine the alcoholic content of (a liquid)
e. : to determine the worth of (a sire) by progeny testing
f.
(1) : to make a test of (as a mineral vein) — usually used with up or out
proved up the … copper deposit — Time
(2) : to establish the presence of oil under — often used with up
(3) : to establish the presence of (oil) — often used with up
proved up … 12 billion in reserves — Time
3.
a. : to establish the truth of (as by argument or evidence) : demonstrate , show
these … statements can be proved — William & Mary Quarterly
no charge against him was ever proven in court — S.H.Adams
b. : to establish the validity of (as by mathematical demonstration)
could prove the forty-seventh proposition — R.L.Stevenson
c. : to verify the correctness of (as an arithmetic operation)
showed her pupils how to prove their answers
4. : to ascertain the genuineness of : verify
such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved — U.S. Constitution
photographic copies of the check … were then proved and admitted in evidence — Criminal Law Review
specifically : to obtain probate of (a will)
5. : to raise (dough) to a desired lightness
intransitive verb
: to turn out especially after trial or test
the medicine proved to be salutary
also : to turn out to be
the report of the war's end proved false
Synonyms:
try , test , demonstrate : prove is now likely to stress ascertainment as certain, true, genuine, or worthy by means of evidence, tests, or logic
to become a writer was, however, in Thoreau's mind; his verses prove it, his Journal proves it — H.S.Canby
he proves the superior importance of plot over other elements in dramatic poetry — Irving Babbitt
try in this sense is now likely to stress subjection to experiences or tests calculated to discern the good from the bad, the strong from the weak
I crumbled common crackers into the pea soup and tried it. It was good pea soup — Kenneth Roberts
the young man should be tried and tested — George Meredith
test likewise stresses subjection to tests and trials, in general to specific, planned, and regular tests calculated to reveal any deficiencies
the first time he had made a helmet, he tested its capacity for resisting blows, and battered it out of shape — Bertrand Russell
he gives us the background of these witnesses, tests their reliability, shifts, summarizes, and collates the main portions of their evidence — Christian Science Monitor
demonstrate is likely to stress conclusive proof or resolution and its orderly presentation with many details
to demonstrate and popularize the Copernican hypothesis — Stringfellow Barr
demonstrated that art did not imitate nature — F.B.Millet
Synonyms: see indicate