English
probative
Probative comes from Latin probātīvus ‘belonging to proof’, from probō ‘show, prove, demonstrate’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰH-wó-s ‘being in front’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pro-bʰH-wó-s‘being in front’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*proβāō‘to approve’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobōas probare‘show, prove, demonstrate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobātīvus‘belonging to proof’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400probatif
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500probatiffe
- Englishearliest quotation 1999probative
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pro-bʰH-wó-s‘being in front’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*proβāō‘to approve’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobōas probare‘show, prove, demonstrate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprobātīvus‘belonging to proof’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400probatif
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500probatiffe
- Englishearliest quotation 1999probative
Earliest quotation: 1999, Dana Stabenow, Hunter's Moon: “The judge had granted the DA a one-week extension…”
first attested First attested in the mid-15th century (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in the mid-15th century.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰH-wó-s ‘being in front’
through Proto-Italic *proβāō ‘to approve’
through Latin probō ‘show, prove, demonstrate’
Today it means
adj Tending to prove a particular proposition or to persuade someone of the truth of an allegation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰH-wó-s / probative