Centesimus Vicesimus Tertius: January 19, 2009: Probo
Theme for this month: Words from prose
probo, probare, probavi, probatus
Definition: to approve, approve of; to appraise; to recommend; to prove, show
Sententia: Probans Gn. Pompeii in Sicilia Africaque victorias, Sulla ei cognomen 'Magnum' dedit.
Probo is a relatively common word, especially in prose--it occurs 1133 times in the Latin prose texts in the Perseus database, and 146 times in the poetry ones. And though the noun probrum looks like probo, they are not similar at all in definition. Probrum means "a shameful or disgraceful act, disgrace, infamy," and it is derived from the Greek word προφέρειν (transliterated as proferein), "to reproach; to bring before." Probo, on the other hand, comes from the adjective probus, which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word prabhus, meaning "prominent; strong" (A Latin Dictionary by Lewis and Short).
NB: Bold and underline == macron