reprove

Where does the word "reprove" come from? It comes from Latin probare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Reprove’s story begins in Latin: probare meant “to test, to prove.” To test, to prove, combined with re- (back, against). Within Latin, it grew into reprobare by ancient. To disapprove, to reject, from re- and probare. From there it passed into Old French as reprover by medieval. Carried into French for scolding someone for a fault. It reached English by 1300s as reprove. Settled as the English word for gently criticizing someone's behavior. Today, reprove means to gently criticize or express disapproval of someone's behavior.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient probare "to test, to prove", to test, to prove, combined with re- (back, against).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient reprobare "to disapprove, to reject", to disapprove, to reject, from re- and probare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval reprover "to scold someone for a fault", carried into French for scolding someone for a fault.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s reprove "to gently criticize or scold someone's behavior", settled as the English word for gently criticizing someone's behavior.