proof

Where does the word "proof" come from? It comes from Late Latin proba, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Proof’s story begins in Late Latin: proba meant “a test.” From 'probare', to test, the root of 'probe' and 'prove'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as prueve. Old French 'prueve' became 'preove' in Middle English. It reached English by 1200s as proof. 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating' means testing reveals quality. Today, proof means evidence establishing a fact.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient proba "a test", from 'probare', to test, the root of 'probe' and 'prove'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval prueve "evidence, test", Old French 'prueve' became 'preove' in Middle English.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s proof "evidence", 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating' means testing reveals quality.