Prove \Prove\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proved; p. pr. & vb. n. Proving.]

[OE. prover, F. prouver, fr. L. probare to try, approve, prove, fr. probus good, proper. Cf. Probable, Proof, Probe.]

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. 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. To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will.

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. (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.

6. (Printing) To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page.

Syn: To try; verify; justify; confirm; establish; evince; manifest; show; demonstrate.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Prove \Prove\, v. i.

1. To make trial; to essay.

2. 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.

3. To succeed; to turn out as expected. [Obs.]

``The experiment proved not.'' --Bacon.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)