probo
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
prŏbo: āvi, ātum, āre, v. a. 1. probus.
I To try, test, examine, inspect, judge of any thing in respect of its goodness, fitness, etc. (rare in class. Lat.; not in Cic. or Cæs.; in eccl. Lat. very freq.).
A Lit.: militem neque a moribus neque a fortunā probabat, sed tantum a viribus, Suet. Caes. 65: tus probatur candore, etc., Plin. 12, 14, 32, § 65: mucronem cultri ad buccam, Petr. 70: terram amaram sive macram, Plin. 17, 5, 3, § 33: denarios, id. 33, 9, 46, § 132: pecuniam, Dig. 46, 3, 39; cf.: sicut probavi ipse, have learned, proved by experience, Pall. 12, 7, 22: aurum per ignem probatur, Vulg. 1 Pet. 1, 7: juga boum, id. Luc. 14, 19.—
B Trop.: tuo ex ingenio mores alienos probas, judge of, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 30; id. Trin. 4, 3, 42: amicitias utilitate, Ov. P. 2, 3, 8.— So, to test, try, prove, examine the mind or heart: ipsi vos probate, Vulg. 2 Cor. 13, 5; cf. id. Zach. 13, 9; id. Psa. 138, 1 et saep.—
II To esteem as good, serviceable, fit, just, etc.; to be satisfied with, to approve a thing (class.; cf. comprobare): quis est, qui non probet, qui non laudet? Cic. Mil. 28, 77: istam rationem laudo vehementer et probo, id. Fam. 7, 1, 5: Cato ea sentit, quae non probantur in vulgus, id. Par. prooem.; id. Fin. 2, 1, 1: Asia picem Idaeam maxime probat, Plin. 14, 20, 25, § 128.—With objectclause: Caesar maxime probat coactis navibus mare transire et Pompeium sequi, Caes. B. C. 1, 29.—
B In partic. (mil. t. t.), to approve for military service, to recruit, enlist: quo (die) primum probati sunt, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 30, 2.—
C To declare any thing well done, to express approbation of, to approve a thing: laudant fabrum atque aedes probant, Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 20: domum, Cic. Fam. 5, 6, 3: villam, Liv. 4, 22: petentibus, ut ad opera probanda, anni et sex mensium tempus prorogaretur, id. 45, 15: plausu probatae puellae, Juv. 11, 164.—
D To approve a person, to recognize as fit or worthy: ad unum Vercingetorigem probant imperatorem, Caes. B. G. 7, 63, 6: quā impudentiā est, eumne testem improbabit quem judicem probarit? Cic. Rosc. Com. 15, 45.—
III To represent or show a thing to be good, serviceable, fit, right, etc., to make acceptable, to recommend; and: aliquid alicui, to convince one of any thing: quos (libros), ut spero, tibi valde probabo, Cic. Att. 4, 14, 1: officium meum P. Servilio, id. Verr. 2, 4, 38, § 82: causam alicui, id. Quint. 30, 92: nostrum officium ac diligentiam, id. Div. in Caecil. 22, 72: factum suum alicui, id. Att. 16, 7, 4: omnia facta dictaque mea sanctissimis moribus tuis, Plin. Ep. 10, 3 (20), 3.—With de: quibus de meo celeri reditu non probabam, Cic. Att. 16, 7, 4: se alicui, to make one's self acceptable: (Epicurus) multis se probavit, id. Fin. 2, 25, 81: quā in legatione (Ligarius) et civibus et sociis ita se probavit, ut, etc., id. Lig. 1, 2.—Pass.: mihi egregie probata est oratio tua, has pleased, Cic. Tusc. 4, 4, 8.—
B In partic., to make a thing credible, to show, prove, demonstrate: crimen, Cic. Fl. 37, 93: his ego judicibus non probabo, C. Verrem contra leges pecunias cepisse? id. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 10: causam paucis verbis, id. Balb. 21, 49: se memorem probare, grateful, id. Fam. 10, 24, 1: perfacile factu esse illis probat, conata perficere, Caes. B. G. 1, 3: hoc difficile est probatu, Cic. Tusc. 5, 1, 1: et patrio pater esse metu probor, my paternal fear shows that I am your father, Ov. M. 2, 91: sicut Thrasvmachi probat exitus, Juv. 7, 204.—With se: malo praesens observantiā, indulgentiā, assiduitate memorem me tibi probare, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 24, 1.—
C To represent, pass off a person for another: loquebantur suppositum in ejus locum, quem pro illo probare velles, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 30, § 78: quod tu istis lacrumis te probare postulas, Non pluris refert quam, etc., Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 101.—So absol.: forma et aetas ipsast, facile ut pro eunucho probes, pass for one, Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 84.—Hence, prŏbātus, a, um, P. a.
A Tried, tested, proved, of approved goodness, good, excellent (syn. spectatus).
1 Of persons: ceterarum homines artium spectati et probati, Cic. de Or. 1, 27, 124: ingeniosos et opulentos, et aetatis spatio probatos, id. Top. 19, 73: operum probatissimi artifices, Col. 11, 1, 6: probatissima femina, most excellent, Cic. Caecin. 4, 10.—
2 Of things: argentum, Plaut. Pers. 4, 6, 1: probata experimento cultura, Quint. 10, 2, 2: boleti probatissimi, Plin. 16, 5, 11, § 31: probatissima palma, id. 23, 5, 52, § 98: probatissima statua, id. 34, 8, 19, § 53: probata et exspectata adulescentia, Lucil. ap. Non. 437, 13: moneta, Vulg. Gen. 23, 16.—
B Transf., pleasing, agreeable: ut nemo probatior primoribus patrum esset, Liv. 27, 8: probatissimus alicui, Cic. Planc. 11, 27.