Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prove, Profe, Pruve, Prufe, v. Also: prov, proove, prow(e, prouve; pruive, pruwe; preuve, proif(e, proof; pruf(f, pruffe, pruif(e, pruiff(e, prwif(f. P.t. and p.p. provit, -yt, -ed, -yd, prowit, -yt, -yd(e, prof(f)it, -yt, pruvit, pruwyt, -yde, pruit, pruf(f)it, -yt, prwiffit; preuv'd; prouvet; also Prute; (provin etc., see Prev(e v.¹⁾. [ME prouwe (c1175), prove (c1200), prof (Manning), prufe (15th c.), e.m.E. prove, prouve, proove, prooeyve (16th c.), p.t. prouwede (12th c.), proved (14th c.), prooved (1560), p.p. i)proved (1297), provit, prowid, proved (15th c.), provyd (1517), OF prover (11th c. in Littré), prouver (1246 in Walth.-Wartb.), L. probāre: cf. Prev(e v.¹] To try, test, prove, in various senses of Prev(e v.¹

I. 1. tr. To establish the worth of (a person or a quality or attribute of a person) by trial; to put to test, try, test. = Prev(e v.¹ 1. Also absol.Also, latterly, to subject to severe trial or affliction, to afflict. ?1438 Alex. ii 10266.
To se hir lemmen that sho lufit In sic ane stour sa weill be prufit 1456 Hay II 149/14.
Quhen thou has lang provit that persone and fyndis him ever traist Ib. 153/15.
Gif thou will prove thy baille … gyf he be lele and trewe c1460 Consail Vys Man 358.
And lipin nocht in a new-cumyne gest, Lat vthire hyme pruf ore thow hyme traist 1490 Irland Mir. I 52/25.
The wertu of the persoune may be provit gif [etc.] Ib. 59/36.
Pruf 1535 Stewart 57758.
Thir fercie freikis that so vther provit a1568 Scott xxii 33.
Lang tyme ȝe haif me pruffit, And evir fund me trew 1559–60 A. Bothwell in M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 66.
That sic trubles … ar the visitations of God to pruif you to try you gif ye luif him 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5124.
Gude schirs I wil ȝow prufe And gif ȝe be sic men for my behufe [etc.] a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx 20.
Bot pacientlie prays God that dois ȝow prowe [: mowe, abowe, lowe] 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 17a.
God prwifis the hartis or myndis of men & women as the golde smyth prwifis silwer & golde in the furneis Ib. fol. 29b.
Excepe in tyme he be weill prwiffit Or thingis owtfall a1585, a1568 Montg. P. i 125.
Then pruif me, and luif me, As deidis sall deserveabsol. a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxix 26.
The sureast way that I can find Is first to prufe and syne to trust

b. To subject (a person) to pressure, so as to influence his actions. a1400 Leg. S. xlii 43.
Thai hire thretty dais suld prufe, Quhile be aw & quhile be lufe, To change hir purpos & wil

2. To test, try out (a thing) for quality, efficiency, suitability and the like. = Prev(e v.¹ 2. a1400 Leg. S. xxv 531 (see Prev(e v.¹ 6 b).
Prowe c1460 Regim. Princ. 10 (Marchm.).
Yha bot he bent and pruf [Maitl. pruve] thaim [harp-strings] with his wraist 1505 Treas. Acc. III 165.
To ane man that provit the watir of Don befor the king, ix s.

3. To try out (something) in experience; to experience. = Prev(e v.¹ 3. Also absol.Also passing into: To hazard, venture, set at risk. 1456 Hay II 103/29.
Thou has provit and experimentit mony mervalous … thingis c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 4207, 4209.
He vald all thing haue provit, sett or faleȝe, And in the somer-castell pas he wald To pruffe his fortoun a1568 Scott xx 17.
Thow langit ay to prufe The strenth of luvis lair Ib. xxxi 2.
Pruve c1590 Fowler I 30/90.
This thow sall prowe, and yit not knaw how thow man cwir thy woundabsol. a1568 Scott xxxii 2.
Lo! quhat it is to lufe, Lerne ȝe, that list to prufe, Be me, I say [etc.]

b. To undergo, enjoy or suffer. = Prev(e v.¹ 3 b. c1475 Wall. ii 222.
Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff [: luff] Ib. v 230. a1568 Bann. MS 225b/17.
Wald scho bethink … quhat panis I prufe Ib. 218a/9. c1590 Fowler I 53/160, 347/3. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xii 9.

c. Const. interrog. clause: To ascertain or discover by experiment, to put to the test, try, see. 1375 Barb. vii 22 (C).
Pruf [E. Prowe] we gif it will now do swa 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS 410/2.
Sir Patrick … deferryt [the sentence] … to prowe gif the forsayde personaris walde seke hym othir with tretys grace or lauch ?1438 Alex. ii 1961.
With the maydins ȝow gammyn and prufe Gif thare be ony that ȝe wald lufe c1420 Wynt. vi 2180.
Prove c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 3448.
Quhill I haue provit anyis quho it wilbe That I haue blude of thame or thai of me 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 225.
Lat pruve gif it be wyid annewch

d. To confirm or verify by experience. Also absol. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 341.
Bot … fortone anerly … Wyrkis al … , As be my-self wele prowit haf I c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxvi 3.
Serve hir, and sche thy constancie sall pruifabsol. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 636.
And Alexander, persauand in him love, Put in his arm [sc. into Bucephalus' cage] ȝit forthir for to proue

4. To try out, sample, taste. = Prev(e v.¹ 4. 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 31.
Learne how to … proue The heavinly joyes, and suggared sweits of loue

5. a. intr. const. of: ? To test, ? by sampling, for ? quality or ? quantity (cf. Prev(e v.¹ 5 and b below); ? to approve, sanction (cf. Preve v.²⁾. 1521–3 Old Dundee II 310.
Copyn is adjudgit to mak the meal as sufficient gude and as gude as the exemple that Henry provit of first

b. To estimate the yield of (a crop), ? by casting proof (Pruf(e n. 5). 1478 Acta Aud. 67/2.
To pruf the crop and proffit of the sawing of the landis … of xx bollis of aitis estymet to thre chalder and xij bollis of aitis

II. 6. To attempt, endeavour to accomplish, try to do (something). = Prev(e v.¹ 6. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1089.
And thu wald the contrare profe, Thu sal na mycht haf to remofe Ib. xxxvi 751.
& tho he profit this fele cyse, Ȝet entre he ne mycht onywise c1420 Wynt. iv 762.
And I wyll … Prowe [v.rr. Pruff, Pruf] sum othir juperdyis a1500 Seven S. 1435.
That perell pertlie sall I prufe With thi ȝe gif me leif to luf

III. 7. To perform (an action etc.). = Prev(e v.¹ 7. c1420 Wynt. v 542.
And ladyis sere scho [Messalina] tretyd ay In cumpany to pruve [C. preyff, W. pruf] that play 1603 Philotus xcviii.
To pleis hir sie thy pairt thow pruif With wit and all devoir 16.. Maidment Balfour Ballads 30.
We are not planets, but fixed starres, We prove not wandering from the right

8. To demonstrate or display in action (an ability or quality). = Prev(e v.¹ 8. 1375 Barb. iii 57.
Quha-sa-euer had seyne him then Prowe sa worthely wasselage Ib. v 174 (E).
That he suld dey war gret pite Bot quhar worschip mycht prowyt [C. prufit] be Ib. xvii 666.
Bot he Prowyt [C. Provit, H. Preeued] on the sow sic sutelte Ib. v 363. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 158.
& hyme sic questione can mowe In scornyng, his wit to prowe Ib. xxxii 199.
& thare thu thi mastre prowe ?1438 Alex. i 394.
And for the gentill Kingis lufe, That oft was wont for vs [to] prufe Lufe, largenes and tendernes Ib. ii 7326. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2734. c1420 Wynt. ii 18.
Or in tyll were thaire pythys prowe [v.rr. pruff, prufe] Ib. iv 927.
Artymodor … made rycht stout and hard assay, And wyrschype prowyde [C., W. pruffit], and manhade Ib. ii 375.
Pruwyt [C., W. pruffit] Ib. 1318.
Pruwyde Ib. v 1456.
Pruwe Ib. ii 1565, etc. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1625.
Prouit c1475 Wall. x 288.
Prowyt c1590 Fowler I 64/179.
So thair I saw what service he and servill death dois prowe

9. To display or reveal oneself (as), to be shown or turn out to be (as specified in the compl.); also, to make of oneself (what the compl. specifies). a. Of persons. = Prev(e v.¹ 9. b. Of things. = Prev(e v.¹ 10.a. intr. c1420 Wynt. ii 77.
In all apport scho prowyt [W. pruffit, C. prewit] man, Suppos in fourme scho wes woman Ib. vii 483.
A suspect traytoure, Set swa he wes nowcht prowyd in dede, Yhit swilk he provyd, or thine he yhed c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 334.
Bot, I traist, he sall prufe the fuill a1578 Pitsc. I 98 n.
[To] do weill that day with him and prowe ane wailȝeant man c1590 Fowler II 97/11. 1604-31 Craig iii 5.
Some [children] must mis-thriue and proue naght 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 192.
I hope … ȝiour majestie shall find him prowe nather onwoorthie nor [etc.] 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1224.
Gratious Prince! … Proue pitifull and spair 1611-57 Mure Sonn. viii 4.
And some the poet proues for hoip of hyre 1659 Hay Diary 53.
It was lik she wold prove a creple all her dayes 1672 Cullen Kirk S. 15 Jan.
They were found together intending to goe away and proue fugitiue 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 30.
And do not still sae arse-ward preuvereflex. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 70.
A couple of knights … wrought han-span And preuv'd themsel's two clifty menb. c1420 Ratis R. 666.
Fore bewte lestis bot a quhill, And ȝet oft-tyme it prowys ill 1571 Bann. Trans. 295.
Thair slaw resolutiones … is lyk yneugh … to prove incomodious to thame selvis 1609 Lett. Eccl. Affairs 185.
That this tempest wil not continew, and that it wil pruif but a gowk storm 1618 Laing MSS I 150.
Proove 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 14.
It riseth upon the ruines of the kirk, and proues like the melt in the bodie, as [etc.] 1669 Conv. Burghs III 609.
[This] wold prove ane wndealable mark of levietie and wnconstancie wpone them

c. With adv. complement. = Prev(e v.¹ 9 b. ?1438 Alex. i 506.
Of the Douze pers that ay Thame prouit weill at hard assay c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2230.
The auchtane day fechtand richt fast He provit sa, quhill at the last Thai torned thar bakis c1420 Wynt. iv 326.
For othirwayis he wndyrstude Than eftyrwarde the gamyn yhede, Or werde off were, prowyd in dede Ib. v 567.
He prowyd [v.rr. proffit, pruffit] welle off his manhede c1475 Wall. v 636.
Stude I in blis off luffe, Quhar dedis war I suld the bettir pruff Ib. viii 1402.
‘Wallace,’ scho said, ‘Yhe war clepyt my luff Mor baundounly I maid me for to pruff Traistand tharfor your rancour for to slak’ a1500 Seven S. 430.
Prufit Ib. 2310. 15.. Clar. iv 983.
To be judge quha provit knightliest 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8624.
Sa he gydit in all thing and weill prufit 1657 Misc. Spald. C. II 395.
The estate was but small, yet, by … honest mannagerie, it proved better than was expected

10. intr. or absol. To display valour or show oneself valiant. a1500 Lanc. 2547.
Of lusty men … Disyrus in to armys for to pruf

IV. 11. To establish the validity, truth or accuracy of, to substantiate, make good, verify. = Prev(e v.¹ 11 a, b, c and f.pres. (a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 810.
The Jow … gert cal hyme in iugment, To prowe his lane that he lent 1456 Hay I 73/24.
Gif I may nocht prove this laufully, I sall prove it with my body Ib. 75/4, etc. 1490 Irland Mir. II 50/35.
Tharfor richt necessar … is to prove and found it in haly writ 1562-3 Winȝet I 88/15.
Be the quhilk St. Paul prouis [MS pruivis] His werray resurrectioun a1578 Pitsc. II 71/19. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 97.
His miracles to prouue his godhaid 1624 St. A. Baxter Bks. 86.
Quhilk the said Charles could na vayis proue nor verifie 1657 Boharm Kirk S. 1 March.
For taking to prove ane untruth befor the face of the Session 1665 Forbes Baron Ct. 262.
For striking … of him, quhilk he took to prow be witnes(b) 14.. Acts I 356/2.
A man may profe sesing of lande boucht wyth in the burche 1474 Acta Aud. 34/2.(c) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 89/24.
Proif 1597 Acts Sederunt ii 28.
To proif payment thairof(d) c1420 Ratis R. 1582.
Sum men mycht argew atte last And pruf with resone his entent 1456 Wemyss Chart. 79.
[To] content the said pure men … as thai may lauchfully pruf it 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I 134. 1479 Acta Aud. 86/2.
To pruf and schew his intra in the said landis 1482–3 Ib. in Acta Conc. II cxvii.
Prufe 1490 Irland Mir. II 43/35.
To pruf the verite of his deid he [etc.] 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 522.
Pruf(e) 1519 Rec. Earld. Orkney 93.
And als the said Johnne Irwing pruducit to pruiff the auld mairchis … and to affirme his evidentis 1549 Lamb Resonyng 57/2, 3.
Quhy ȝour buik specifeis alanerlie bot ane historiciane … for to pruif the first homage … and for to pruif all the vthir homagis 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 27.
To try and pruiffe befoir us … the great wrangus [etc.] 1611 Inverness Rec. II 80.p.t. 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 114.
Than John Naper seriand provit his tachment 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 275.
Ȝe haif said that quhilk ȝe are not hable to preif, for I proved my doctryne thair be gude argumentisp.p.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 28.
& contynens als wele he lufyt, As [be] syndry ma be prowit [: lufyt] c1420 Wynt. i 66.
Than folyly we sulde oucht say That may noucht in ws consaywyde be Na prowyde be auctoryte 14.. Acts I 357/2.
And that profe aw to be prowyt of his pouerte be iiij lell men Ib. 42/2.
Provyt 1445 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 398. 1456 Hay I 260/29.
Gif a lord has a bonde man that is accusit of thift the quhilk may nocht be provit be opyn pruf(b) 1478 Acta Aud. 59/1.
As was pruvit before the said lordis(c) 1476 Acta Aud. 57/1.
As wes proffit be a testimoniale of the erle of Ergylis 1483 Ib. *118/2. 1597 Paisley B. Rec. 193.
Quhilk … is presentlie profyt this day(d) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 44 (B).
And it aw to be prufyt wyth wytnes 1431 Liber Melros 523.
Except as it was manifest thar prufit be actentik letteris testimoniale 1456 Hay I 286/17.
That his caus can nocht be prufit in na way bot be his persoun 1478 Acta Aud. 59/1.
Pruffit 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 386.
And as to the sevin ky and oxin takin fra the sade Wilyeam and prufit with Patrik Andersone, his serjand

b. To establish as to amount. = Prev(e v.¹ 11 e. 1482–3 Acta Aud. in Acta Conc. II cx.
To prufe the avale and quantite of the said Mergretis barnis part of gudis clamyt Ib. 1605 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 1.
As alsua pruifeis led to pruife the quantite of the sawing 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxxiv §iii (1699) 161.
Nor can the private damnage be repaired, except his losse be liquidly proved

c. intr. To prove for, to establish the validity of, to validate. 1483 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 207.
That the rollis … is sufficient to pruff for the possessioun of the kirk of Brechine to the secund teynd

12. tr. To establish, demonstrate (that something is so, etc.). = Prev(e v.¹ 12.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 437.
He bad his wyf … That scho suld profe, as the law wes, He to ded wes put saklas Ib. xxxvi 981.
Thinkand to prowe be resone That thai suld haf successione Ib. xxxi 456. c1420 Wynt. v 1339.
The fadyr … he couth welle prove [v.rr. pruff, pruf] Dysspoyleyhyt the sone 1433 Aberd. B. Rec. I 389.
To prufe this day … that he had assithit fullely Lankyn Wist 1456 Hay I 20/13.
The quhilkis the prophet prouvet clerely that oure salvatour [etc.] Ib. 117/27, etc.
Provis 1456 Perth Guildry 18.
Gif the said John pruffis nocht … that he has pait 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 122.
Pruf 1471 Acta Aud. 16/2.
To profe that … Joffray Fleming distruyt hir corne … and quhat skathe scho has sustenit therthrou 1478 Ib. 59/2, etc.
Pruf 1480 Acta Conc. I 57/2.
Prufe 1485 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 318.
He may prufe befor the schereff … that thai [lands] are of vaile 1503 Aberd. B. Rec. I 431.
It was sufficiently pruit befor the said assis, and als be his avne gravnt, that the said William [etc.] 1519 Rec. Earld. Orkney 92.
The said Johnne Irwyne offerit to proof that he susteinet great wrang of [etc.] a1568 Scott xii 33.
Gif I do prufe That I ȝow luf 1558-66 Knox I 199.
I prove, that abydis not the tryall of Goddis word, which Goddis word condempnes 1673 Forbes Baron Ct. 294.
Quhair shee aleigit to prow that the said John Henderson did strick … hir(2) 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 75.
And thay said y behoweit to prowe it to be mayne 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 943. 1629 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 162.
In calling him mansuorne and that he wald prove him to be sua 1665 Laing MSS I 345.
If I shall prow … thos aspertions to be meir ontreuths 1696 Corshill Baron Ct. 191.(3) c1420 Wynt. vii 2871.
Thai that provyd [C. pruffit] war till hym fals 1488 Acta Aud. 113/2.
Alsmekele as the efter fallis of the teis of the schip … is prufit of avale 1517 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 166.
He … that beis apprehendit or provit brekand this statute 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 421.
He than … offerit to prufe thame foule of the samin bill 1589–90 St. A. B. Ct. 30 Jan.
That he suld prwiff him mensworne 1616 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 288.
Pruf a1634 Read Buch. 2.
Befor ane indifferent judge a [sic] shall mor easilie prow Cambros a canibus et brutis … then thoue sall persuade me that [etc.]

b. Of a witness: To establish by his testimony. c. Of some fact or circumstance: To attest, testify, demonstrate, confirm (that something is the case, etc.).b. 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 5.
Thir witnes prowand it [sc. a tenement] waist 1501 Ib. 12.
Profand 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 53.
And producit Jhone Mertyne [etc.] … prowit his aitht gud and leill 1534 Rec. Earld. Orkney 218.
The forsaid witnes provs … that they hard … Michall Myrremanc. c1420 Ratis R. 1709.
Albert … left sindry experimentis That provis weil sutht his ententis 1490 Irland Mir. I 159/3.
Merwalis … provand that he was werray God a1605 Montg. Misc. P. l 15.
Quhose port … Pruiffis hir, but peir or peregall, Of maidis the maikles margareit 1616 J. Maitland Misc. Hist. Soc. II 196.
The publications … wil easelie prooue this written be me anent the … contents of the ligs … to be true

13. a. To establish (an accusation, the validity of a document, etc.) apon or against another. b. absol. Of a testimony or a piece of evidence: To serve to establish a case (against one); to carry conviction, to hold; also const. adv.a. c1420 Bute MS fol. 141.
A. that here standis sal ger it be provit apon thé … as the law of Scotland wyl 1643 Kinghorn Kirk S. 48.
Being sumoned witnesses to proove the clerks bill against Wm. Cuninghameb. (1) 1611 Morison Dict. Decis. 12603 (28 Nov.).
It was alleged that the acquittance could not prove against my lord Forbes 1622-6 Bisset I 213/29.
That the wreit produced aganist him or sum of theme can nocht prove aganist him because they ar fals [etc.](2) a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 253.
Found that the testimoniall of a judge does not prove legittime Ib. 265.
Wittnesses prove not sufficientlie 1. if they be discrepant from themselfes [etc.]

c. tr. ? To establish a case against (another). 14.. Acts I 86*/2.
It is to wit that nane of the kinrik of Ingland may proue ony [L. potest probare aliquem] of the kinrik of Scotland by witnes bot al only be the body of man

14. a. In rel. clause introduced by as, or with ellipsis of the obj., in previous senses. a1500 Henr. Annunc. (O.U.P.) 3.
As writ can pruf [: lufe, abufe, muf, rufe (= rest), reprufe (= reproof n.)] c1490 Irland Asl. MS 52/28.
The first cherite makis the person sone of God be … adopcioun as mony auctoriteis of haly writ provis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4148.
Also kirkmen bene mair kinde to thair lufis, Than vtheris ar, als weill the prettick prufis 1562 Knox Ressoning in Knox VI 171.
If any think that I speak more liberally than I am able to prove c1590 Fowler II 45/12.
As leirnitlie prouis Hierome vpoun the first to Titus a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1235 (W²⁾.
‘Sirs, Dreid and Danger,’ then quod Wit, ‘Ȝe did ȝour sells to me submit; Experience can proife'