From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!peri!sbcs!debray Newsgroups: net.nlang Title: Original meaning of PROVE Article-I.D.: sbcs.221 Posted: Sat Mar 5 09:51:35 1983 Received: Tue Mar 8 03:03:54 1983 This refers back to something I saw in an article a few days ago in this newsgroup, which claimed that the original meaning of "prove" was *NOT* "to test". Here's the Oxford English Dictionary (1971 edition) on the subject : "prove" derives from the Latin "probare" - to test (a thing) as to its goodness, to try a thing out. Meanings : I. To make trial of, try, test ; to subject to a testing process ... example : "[The engraver] proved a plate in different states, that he might ascertain how far his labours had been successful." (Encyclopaedia Brittanica, 3rd. ed., 1797, vol XV, p 590 ). Sorry to be pedantic, but I HAD to be vindicated! Saumya Debray SUNY at Stony Brook {peri!, allegra!} sbcs!debray