prove

Definitions

1. 1.2. To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence. They have inferred much from slender premises, and conjectured when they could not prove. J. H. Newman.
2. 2.To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will.
3. 3.To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer. Where she, captived long, great woes did prove. Spenser.
4. 4.(Arith.) To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the correctness of any operation or result; thus, in subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater, the correctness of the subtraction is proved.
5. 5.(Printing) To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page.
6. 6.To make trial; to essay.
7. 7.To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false. "The case proves mortal." Arbuthnot. So life a winter's morn may prove. Keble.
8. 8.To succeed; to turn out as expected. [Obs.] "The experiment proved not." Bacon.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

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• What does "prove" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is prove.

• What is to ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will called?
• What is to gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer. Where she, captived long, great woes did prove. Spenser called?
• What is to take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page called?
• What is to be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false. "The case proves mortal." Arbuthnot. So life a winter's morn may prove. Keble called?
• What is to succeed; to turn out as expected. [Obs.] "The experiment proved not." Bacon called?