profian

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *prōbōn, from Late Latin probō (“test, try, examine, approve, show to be good or fit, prove”, verb), from probus (“good, worthy, excellent”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰuH-s (“being in front, prominent”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-, *per- (“toward”) + Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to be”). Related to Old Frisian prōvia, Old Norse prófa. More at for, be.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈproː.fi.ɑn/, [ˈproː.vi.ɑn]

Verb

prōfian

1. to esteem; regard as
   • ... for þeóf hé is tó prófianne ― ... he is to be regarded as a thief (L. Wih. 28 ; Th. i. 42, 25 : L. In. 20; Th. i. 116, 2.)
2. to test, try, prove
3. to show evidence of, evince

Conjugation

Conjugation of prōfian (weak, class 2)

infinitive	prōfian	prōfienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	prōfiġe	prōfode
second person singular	prōfast	prōfodest
third person singular	prōfaþ	prōfode
plural	prōfiaþ	prōfodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	prōfiġe	prōfode
plural	prōfiġen	prōfoden
imperative
singular	prōfa
plural	prōfiaþ
participle	present	past
	prōfiende	(ġe)prōfod

Derived terms

• *prōfung

Descendants

• Middle English: proven
  • English: proove, prove