probe

Where does the word "probe" come from? It comes from Latin probare, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).

Probe’s story begins in Latin: probare meant “to test, to prove.” The root of 'prove', 'probation' and 'probable'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as proba. A test, an examination, from probare. It reached English by 1400s as probe. Settled as the English word for a thorough investigation, or an instrument used to explore. Today, probe means a thorough investigation, or an instrument used to explore or examine something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient probare "to test, to prove", the root of 'prove', 'probation' and 'probable'.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval proba "a test, an examination", a test, an examination, from probare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s probe "a thorough investigation, or an instrument used to explore", settled as the English word for a thorough investigation, or an instrument used to explore.