prob-, proba-, probat-, prov-

(Latin: upright, good, honest; to try, to test, to examine; to demonstrate)

probable (adjective), more probable, most probable
1. Likely to occur or to be true: Jack said, "Our basketball team will be the probable winner of the tournament!"
2. Possible but unsure; plausible: It is certainly probable that it will snow in two days.
3. Capable of having more evidence for than against, or having evidence that inclines the mind to a belief but leaves some room for doubt: Jack presumed it was probable that the store would be open at 10 am, but he wasn't sure.
probably (adverb), more probably, most probably
1. Concerning how something is considered to be certain and without much doubt; very likely to be: The sky is covered with clouds and it is quite stormy outside, so it will probably rain.

Jane said, "I tried calling up Susan, but she didn't answer the phone, so she is probably out shopping."
2. Pertaining to how something is easy to believe on the basis of available evidence: Since Jack is respected among his colleagues and has the qualifications, he will probably be elected for the new position in the firm.

probate
1. The act of proving that an instrument purporting to be a will was signed and executed in accord with legal requirements.
2. A judicial certificate saying that a will is genuine and conferring on the executors the power to administer the estate.
3. To establish the legal validity of (wills and other documents).
probation
1. A method of dealing with offenders; especially, young people who are guilty of minor crimes or first offenses, by allowing them to go at large under supervision of a probation officer.
2. The state of having been conditionally released by a court.
3. A trial period or condition for students in certain educational institutions who are being permitted to redeem failures, misconduct, etc.
4. A trial period in which a student is given time to try to redeem failing grades or bad conduct.
5. The testing or trial of a candidate for membership in a religious body or order, for holy orders, etc.
6. A process or period in which a person's fitness, as for work or membership in a social group, is tested.
7. In law: The act of suspending the sentence of a person convicted of a criminal offense and granting that person provisional freedom with the promise of good behavior.
8. A discharge for a person from commitment as an insane person on condition of continued sanity and of being recommitted upon the reappearance of insanity.
probationer
1. Someone who is released on probation or on parole>
2. A nurse (or other employee) in training who is undergoing a trial period.
probe (s) (noun), probes (pl)
1. In surgery, a probe is a slender flexible rod with a blunt end used to explore; for example, an opening to see where it goes.
2. An exploratory action, expedition, or device, especially one designed to investigate and to obtain information about a remote or unknown region.
3. An investigation into unfamiliar matters or questionable activities; a penetrating inquiry: Mar conducted a congressional probe into price fixing.
4. A space probe or a rocket-propelled guided missile that can escape the earth's atmosphere and which makes observations of the solar system that cannot be made by terrestrial observations.
probe (verb), probes; probed; probing
1. The act of exploring or searching with or as if with a device or instrument.
2. To delve into; to investigate.
Probitas laudatur et alget. Criminibus debent hortos praetoria mensas, argentum vetus et stantem extra pocula caprum. (Latin proverb)
Translation: "Honesty is praised and left out in the cold. Gardens, palaces, rich tables, old silver, and those embossed goats on the cups; men owe these to their crimes."

From Decimus Iunius (Junius) Iuvenalis (Juvenalis) (c. A.D. 60-117); Saturae, I, 74; who attacked the vices of the plutocrats, the wickedness and immorality of women and foreigners (particularly Greeks), and grieves about the decline of the ancient aristocratic virtues.

probity (s) (noun), probities (pl)
1. The quality of having strong moral principles, honesty, and integrity: As a financial advisor, Adam always strives to possess as much probity as possible.
2. Etymology: from Latin probitas, "from probus, "honest, good".
Honesty in one's behavior.
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Adherence to highest principles.
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proof (s) (noun), proofs (pl)
1. Evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.
2. The act of testing or making a trial of anything; a test; a trial.
3. The establishment of the truth of anything; a demonstration.
4. A sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion.
5. A test to determine the quality, durability, etc., of materials used in manufacturing.
proof (verb), proofs; proofed; proofing
1. To make a trial impression of something that is printed or engraved.
2. To read printed copy or to inspect a printed impression for errors.
3. To make something capable of resisting harm, injury, or damage: The store had coats made of fabric proofed material that prevented shrinkage.
provable (adjective) (not comparable)
Capable of being verified: Jack's competency in German was provable to all the students in class when he answered his teacher's questions in perfect German!
provably (adverb), more provably, most provably
Pertaining to how something is proven in an obvious manner: Sammy said he couldn't find his jacket, but his claim was provably wrong, because it was right in front of him!
prove (verb), proves; proved; proving
1. To establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument.
2. To subject to a test, to experiment, a comparison, an analysis in order to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.
4. Established beyond doubt3
reprobate
1. A morally unprincipled person.
2. Morally unprincipled; shameless.
3. To disapprove of; to condemn.