proved - Definitions from Dictionary.com

3 results for: proved

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

prove

Audio Help [proov] Pronunciation Key verb, proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument: to prove one's claim.

2.	Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.

3.	to give demonstration of by action.

4.	to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.: to prove ore.

5.	to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, esp. through one's actions.

6.	Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.

7.	Also, proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).

8.	to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.

9.	Archaic. to experience.

–verb (used without object)

10.	to turn out: The experiment proved to be successful.

11.	to be found by trial or experience to be: His story proved false.

12.	(of dough) to rise to a specified lightness: Leave covered until it has proved.

[Origin: 1125–75; ME proven < OF prover < L probāre to try, test, prove, approve, deriv. of probus good. See probity

]

—Related forms

prov·a·ble, adjective

prov·a·bil·i·ty, prov·a·ble·ness, noun

prov·a·bly, adverb

prov·en·ly, adverb

prover, noun

—Synonyms 1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

—Antonyms 1. disprove.

—Usage note Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove: Events have proved (or proven) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
proved

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

prove Audio Help   (prōōv) Pronunciation Key
v.   proved, proved or prov·en (prōō'vən), prov·ing, proves

v.   tr.

To establish the truth or validity of by presentation of argument or evidence.
Law To establish the authenticity of (a will).
To determine the quality of by testing; try out.
Mathematics
1. To demonstrate the validity of (a hypothesis or proposition).
2. To verify (the result of a calculation).
Printing To make a sample impression of (type).
Archaic To find out or learn (something) through experience.

v. intr.
To be shown to be such; turn out: a theory that proved impractical in practice.

Phrasal Verb(s):
prove out
To turn out well; succeed.

[Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probāre, to test, from probus, good; see per¹ in Indo-European roots.]

prov'a·bil'i·ty, prov'a·ble·ness n., prov'a·ble adj., prov'a·bly adv., prov'en·ly adv., prov'er n.

Usage Note: Prove has two past participles: proved and proven. Proved is the older form. Proven is a variant. The Middle English spellings of prove included preven, a form that died out in England but survived in Scotland, and the past participle proven, a form that probably rose by analogy with verbs like weave, woven and cleave, cloven. Proven was originally used in Scottish legal contexts, such as The jury ruled that the charges were not proven. In the 20th century, proven has made inroads into the territory once dominated by proved, so that now the two forms compete on equal footing as participles. However, when used as an adjective before a noun, proven is now the more common word: a proven talent.