Etymograph

English

probable

Probable comes from Latin probābilis ‘that may be proved, credible’, from probō ‘to test, examine’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰH-wó-s ‘being in front’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pro-bʰH-wó-s‘being in front’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*proβāō‘to approve’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobōas probāre‘to test, examine’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobābilis‘that may be proved, credible’
  5. Old Frenchc. 842–1400probable
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500probable
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1765–1769probable

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pro-bʰH-wó-s‘being in front’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*proβāō‘to approve’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobōas probāre‘to test, examine’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobābilis‘that may be proved, credible’
  5. Old Frenchc. 842–1400probable
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500probable
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1765–1769probable

Earliest quotation: 1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England: “probable evidence”.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰH-wó-s ‘being in front’

probe, probity, 5 more

through Proto-Italic *proβāō ‘to approve’

approve, 14 more

through Latin probō ‘to test, examine’

improve, prove, proof, approbation, 15 more

Today it means

adj Likely or most likely to be true.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰH-wó-s / probable

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