D defs.my
Entry 9 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Prove

/pro͞ov/ · IPA /pɹuːv/
01 v. t. To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove…
imp. & p. p. Proved; p. pr. & vb. n. Proving
  1. 1.
    To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure.
    “Thou hast proved mine heart.” — Ps. xvii. 3.
  2. 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.
  3. 3.
    To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will.
  4. 4.
    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.
  5. 5.
    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.(Arith.)
  6. 6.
    To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page.(Printing)
02 v. i. To make trial; to essay.
  1. 1.
    To make trial; to essay.
  2. 2.
    To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false.
    “So life a winter's morn may prove.” Keble.
  3. 3.
    To succeed; to turn out as expected.[Obs.]