Proof

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Definition

  • Def: Proof 1. evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth; 2. anything serving as such evidence; 3. the act of testing or making trial of anything; test; trial; 4. the establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration; 5. Mathematics. an arithmetical operation serving to check the correctness of a calculation; 6. Logic. a sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion; 7. able to withstand; successful in not being overcome;

  • Origin: c.1225, preove, "evidence to establish the fact of (something)," from O.Fr. prueve (c.1224), from L.L. proba "a proof," a back-formation from L. probare "to prove" (see prove). Meaning "act of testing or making trial of anything" is from c.1380. Sense of "tested power" led to fireproof (early 17c.), waterproof (1736), foolproof (1902), etc. Meaning "standard of strength of distilled liquor" is from 1705. Typographical sense of "trial impression to test type" is from 1600; proofreader first attested 1832. Numismatic sense of "coin struck to test a die" is from 1762; now mostly in ref. to coins struck from highly polished dies, mainly for collectors;

  • Synonyms: affidavit, argument, attestation, authentication, averment, case, certification, cincher, clue, confirmation, corroboration, credentials, criterion, data, demonstration, deposition, documents, dope, establishment, exhibit, facts, ground, info, picture, reason, reasons, record, substantiation, testament, testimony, trace, validation, verification, warrant.
Source: Dictionary.com Unabridged