prove

[proov] /pruv/
verb (used with object), proved, proved or proven, proving.
1.
to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument:
to prove one's claim.
2.
Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.
3.
to give demonstration of by action.
4.
to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.:
to prove ore.
5.
to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.
6.
Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
7.
Also, proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
8.
to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
9.
Archaic. to experience.
verb (used without object), proved, proved or proven, proving.
10.
to turn out:
The experiment proved to be successful.
11.
to be found by trial or experience to be:
His story proved false.
12.
(of dough) to rise to a specified lightness:
Leave covered until it has proved.
Origin
1125-75; Middle English proven < Old French prover < Latin probāre to try, test, prove, approve, derivative of probus good. See probity
Related forms
provable, adjective
provability, provableness, noun
provably, adverb
provenly, adverb
prover, noun
half-proved, adjective
half-proven, adjective
nonprovable, adjective
overprove, verb (used with object), overproved, overproved or overproven, overproving.
preprove, verb (used with object), preproved, preproved or preproven, preproving.
self-proving, adjective
semiproven, adjective
unprovable, adjective
unproved, adjective
unproven, adjective
unproving, adjective
well-proved, adjective
well-proven, adjective
Synonyms
1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.
Antonyms
1. disprove.
Usage note
Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove: Events have proved (or proven) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.
Examples from the web for proven
  • That's pretty well proven by psychological research.
  • But the general's policies have proven weak and erratic.
  • The origin of these rich deposits has proven controversial.
  • Shale extraction technologies boost proven gas reserves.
  • Furthermore, as read in the article it was proven his works had been manually colored or enhanced.
  • His success has proven this to be as untrue for chocolate as it was for coffee.
  • Its easy to use, clinically proven non-toxic to human and has no side effects, no pain to use and no allergic reaction.
  • The argument is that, you know, causal relationship in animals has not been proven.
  • proven management skills, a record of publication, and strong communication skills are necessary qualifications.
  • But tackling millions of species in this way has proven to be a recipe for confusion.
British Dictionary definitions for proven

proven

/ˈpruːvən/
verb
1.
a past participle of prove
2.
See not proven
adjective
3.
tried; tested: a proven method
Derived Forms
provenly, adverb

prove

/pruːv/
verb (mainly transitive) proves, proving, proved, proved, proven
1.
(may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to establish or demonstrate the truth or validity of; verify, esp by using an established sequence of procedures or statements
2.
to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis
3.
(law) to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)
4.
to show (oneself) able or courageous
5.
(copula) to be found or shown (to be): this has proved useless, he proved to be invaluable
6.
(printing) to take a trial impression of (type, etc)
7.
(intransitive) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking
8.
(archaic) to undergo
Derived Forms
provable, adjective
provability, noun
provably, adverb
Word Origin
C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest
Word Origin and History for proven
adj.

1650s, past participle adjective from alternative past participle (originally in Scottish legal use) of prove (v).

prove

v.

late 12c., pruven, proven "to try, test; evaluate; demonstrate," from Old French prover, pruver "show; convince; put to the test" (11c., Modern French prouver), from Latin probare "to make good; esteem, represent as good; make credible, show, demonstrate; test, inspect; judge by trial" (source also of Spanish probar, Italian probare), from probus "worthy, good, upright, virtuous," from PIE *pro-bhwo- "being in front," from *pro-, extended form of root *per- (1) "forward, through" (see per), + root *bhu- "to be" (cf. Latin fui "I have been," futurus "about to be;" Old English beon "to be;" see be). Related: Proved; proven; proving.

Idioms and Phrases with proven

prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove also see: exception proves the rule