I. To try, test, examine, inspect, judge of any thing in respect of its goodness, fitness, etc. (rare in class. Lat.; not in Cic. or Cæs.; in eccl. Lat. very freq.).
A. Lit.: “militem neque a moribus neque a fortunā probabat, sed tantum a viribus,” Suet. Caes. 65: “tus probatur candore, etc.,” Plin. 12, 14, 32, § 65: “mucronem cultri ad buccam,” Petr. 70: “terram amaram sive macram,” Plin. 17, 5, 3, § 33: “denarios,” id. 33, 9, 46, § 132: “pecuniam,” Dig. 46, 3, 39; cf.: “sicut probavi ipse,” have learned, proved by experience, Pall. 12, 7, 22: “aurum per ignem probatur,” Vulg. 1 Pet. 1, 7: “juga boum,” id. Luc. 14, 19.—
B. Trop.: “tuo ex ingenio mores alienos probas,” judge of, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 30; id. Trin. 4, 3, 42: “amicitias utilitate,” Ov. P. 2, 3, 8.— So, to test, try, prove, examine the mind or heart: “ipsi vos probate,” Vulg. 2 Cor. 13, 5; cf. id. Zach. 13, 9; id. Psa. 138, 1 et saep.—
II. To esteem as good, serviceable, fit, just, etc.; to be satisfied with, to approve a thing (class.; cf. “comprobare): quis est, qui non probet, qui non laudet?” Cic. Mil. 28, 77: “istam rationem laudo vehementer et probo,” id. Fam. 7, 1, 5: Cato ea sentit, quae non probantur in vulgus, id. Par. prooem.; id. Fin. 2, 1, 1: “Asia picem Idaeam maxime probat,” Plin. 14, 20, 25, § 128.—With objectclause: “Caesar maxime probat coactis navibus mare transire et Pompeium sequi,” Caes. B. C. 1, 29.—
B. In partic. (mil. t. t.), to approve for military service, to recruit, enlist: quo (die) primum probati sunt, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 30, 2.—
C. To declare any thing well done, to express approbation of, to approve a thing: “laudant fabrum atque aedes probant,” Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 20: “domum,” Cic. Fam. 5, 6, 3: “villam,” Liv. 4, 22: “petentibus, ut ad opera probanda, anni et sex mensium tempus prorogaretur,” id. 45, 15: “plausu probatae puellae,” Juv. 11, 164.—
D. To approve a person, to recognize as fit or worthy: “ad unum Vercingetorigem probant imperatorem,” Caes. B. G. 7, 63, 6: “quā impudentiā est, eumne testem improbabit quem judicem probarit?” Cic. Rosc. Com. 15, 45.—
III. To represent or show a thing to be good, serviceable, fit, right, etc., to make acceptable, to recommend; and: aliquid alicui, to convince one of any thing: “quos (libros), ut spero, tibi valde probabo,” Cic. Att. 4, 14, 1: “officium meum P. Servilio,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 38, § 82: “causam alicui,” id. Quint. 30, 92: “nostrum officium ac diligentiam,” id. Div. in Caecil. 22, 72: “factum suum alicui,” id. Att. 16, 7, 4: “omnia facta dictaque mea sanctissimis moribus tuis,” Plin. Ep. 10, 3 (20), 3.—With de: “quibus de meo celeri reditu non probabam,” Cic. Att. 16, 7, 4: se alicui, to make one's self acceptable: “(Epicurus) multis se probavit,” id. Fin. 2, 25, 81: “quā in legatione (Ligarius) et civibus et sociis ita se probavit, ut, etc.,” id. Lig. 1, 2.—Pass.: “mihi egregie probata est oratio tua,” has pleased, Cic. Tusc. 4, 4, 8.—
B. In partic., to make a thing credible, to show, prove, demonstrate: “crimen,” Cic. Fl. 37, 93: “his ego judicibus non probabo, C. Verrem contra leges pecunias cepisse?” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 10: “causam paucis verbis,” id. Balb. 21, 49: “se memorem probare,” grateful, id. Fam. 10, 24, 1: “perfacile factu esse illis probat, conata perficere,” Caes. B. G. 1, 3: “hoc difficile est probatu,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 1, 1: “et patrio pater esse metu probor,” my paternal fear shows that I am your father, Ov. M. 2, 91: “sicut Thrasvmachi probat exitus,” Juv. 7, 204.—With se: malo praesens observantiā, indulgentiā, assiduitate memorem me tibi probare, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 24, 1.—
C. To represent, pass off a person for another: “loquebantur suppositum in ejus locum, quem pro illo probare velles,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 30, § 78: “quod tu istis lacrumis te probare postulas, Non pluris refert quam, etc.,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 101.—So absol.: forma et aetas ipsast, facile ut pro eunucho probes, pass for one, Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 84.—Hence, prŏbātus , a, um, P. a.
A. Tried, tested, proved, of approved goodness, good, excellent (syn. spectatus).
1. Of persons: “ceterarum homines artium spectati et probati,” Cic. de Or. 1, 27, 124: “ingeniosos et opulentos, et aetatis spatio probatos,” id. Top. 19, 73: “operum probatissimi artifices,” Col. 11, 1, 6: “probatissima femina,” most excellent, Cic. Caecin. 4, 10.—
2. Of things: “argentum,” Plaut. Pers. 4, 6, 1: “probata experimento cultura,” Quint. 10, 2, 2: “boleti probatissimi,” Plin. 16, 5, 11, § 31: “probatissima palma,” id. 23, 5, 52, § 98: “probatissima statua,” id. 34, 8, 19, § 53: probata et exspectata adulescentia, Lucil. ap. Non. 437, 13: “moneta,” Vulg. Gen. 23, 16.—
B. Transf., pleasing, agreeable: “ut nemo probatior primoribus patrum esset,” Liv. 27, 8: “probatissimus alicui,” Cic. Planc. 11, 27.
