prove Copy link Outline A. Trans.I. To testII. To render certain by evidence, argument, etc.1. prŏbo, 1 (to make good, substantiate)2. dŏceo, 2 (to show or inform in any way)3. effĭcio, fēci, fectum, 3 (to make out by argument)4. vinco, vīci, victum, 3 (a strong expr., to p. triumphantly or irrefragably5. confirmo, 1 (to establish, make out surely and certainly)III. To show, give practical proof of something; esp. with pron. refl.1. praebeo, 2 (with pron. refl. = to show oneself)2. praesto, stĭti, stĭtum and stātum, 1; fut. part. praestāturus3. exhĭbeo, 2 (with direct acc. denoting the character evinced)B. Intrans., to turn out in practice or trial1. of persons, expr. by praebeo, praesto, etc.2. of things, expr. by esse, with dat. of result (see L. G. § 297); also fĭĕri, factum esse3. ēvādo, si, sum, 3 (to issue in a certain way)4. where the reference is to a search, expr. by inveniri, reperiri (to be found to be so and so) • prove: A. Trans.: I. To test: expĕrior, 4: v. to try. II. To render certain by evidence, argument, etc.: 1. prŏbo, 1 (to make good, substantiate): he p.s to them that the thing is perfectly easy, perfacile factu esse illis probat, Caes. B. G. 1, 3: this is hard to p., hoc difficile est probatu, Cic. Tusc. 5, 1, 2: to p. (substantiate) a charge, crimen p., id. Fl. 37, 93: Ov. 2. dŏceo, 2 (to show or inform in any way): more exactly, argumentis docere, Cic. N. D. 3, 4, 9: and again, argumentis et rationibus, id. Div. 2, 11, 27. (But doceo is often = simply, to inform.) 3. effĭcio, fēci, fectum, 3 (to make out by argument): he seeks to p. that the soul is mortal, vult e. animos esse mortales, Cic. Tusc. 1, 31, fin. Esp. in pass., efficitur, it is p.d, it follows: with acc. and inf., or ut and subj. (id. N. D. 3, 12, 30). 4. vinco, vīci, victum, 3 (a strong expr., to p. triumphantly or irrefragably: cf. Gr. ὁ λόγος καθαιρει): if I show (that it was not done) by Avitus, I p. conclusively that it was by Oppianicus, si doceo non ab Avito, vinco ab Oppianico, Cic. Clu. 23, 64: Hor. 5. confirmo, 1 (to establish, make out surely and certainly): to p. our own (position) by arguments, c. nostra argumentis et rationibus, Cic. de Or. 2, 19, 80: Quint. (Confirmo refers rather to the manner of proof, as strong and conclusive, than simply to the fact of demonstration. Hence it cannot be used of mathematical proof.) So also firmo, 1: Cic. Fat. 5, 11. (N.B.--Demonstro, monstro, signify simply to point out, state, show; and do not necessarily imply argument.) III. To show, give practical proof of something; esp. with pron. refl. 1. praebeo, 2 (with pron. refl. = to show oneself): he p.d himself merciful (= behaved mercifully), misericordem se praebuit, Cic. Caec. 10, init. Without pron. refl.: he has p.d himself a vigorous fellow, strenuum hominem praebuit, Ter. Ph. 3, 1, 12. 2. praesto, stĭti, stĭtum and stātum, 1; fut. part. praestāturus: to p. oneself invincible, se invictum p., Ov. Tr. 4, 10, 104: Sen.: cf. to exhibit (II.). 3. exhĭbeo, 2 (with direct acc. denoting the character evinced): to p. oneself a real statesman, vere civilem virum ex., Quint. 12, 2, 7: Just. (Not in Cic.). B. Intrans., to turn out in practice or trial: 1. of persons, expr. by praebeo, praesto, etc.: v. supr. (III.). 2. of things, expr. by esse, with dat. of result (see L. G. § 297); also fĭĕri, factum esse: what a calamity over self-confidence is wont to p., nimia fiducia quantae calamitati soleat esse, Nep. Pel. 3, init.: a spacious house p.s a disgrace to its owner, ampla domus dedecori domino fit, Cic. Off. 1, 39, 139. 3. ēvādo, si, sum, 3 (to issue in a certain way): I fear this joy may p. ill-founded, vereor ne haec laetitia vana evadat, Liv. 23, 12, med.: Cic.: v. to turn out. 4. where the reference is to a search, expr. by inveniri, reperiri (to be found to be so and so): v. to find.