Lewis & Short

prŏbo, āvi, ātum, āre, v. a. [1. probus].

  1. I. To try, test, examine, inspect, judge of any thing in respect of its goodness, fitness, etc. (rare in class. Lat.; not in Cic. or Cæs.; in eccl. Lat. very freq.).
    1. A. Lit.: militem neque a moribus neque a fortunā probabat, sed tantum a viribus, Suet. Caes. 65: tus probatur candore, etc., Plin. 12, 14, 32, § 65: mucronem cultri ad buccam, Petr. 70: terram amaram sive macram, Plin. 17, 5, 3, § 33: denarios, id. 33, 9, 46, § 132: pecuniam, Dig. 46, 3, 39; cf.: sicut probavi ipse, have learned, proved by experience, Pall. 12, 7, 22: aurum per ignem probatur, Vulg. 1 Pet. 1, 7: juga boum, id. Luc. 14, 19.
    2. B. Trop.: tuo ex ingenio mores alienos probas, judge of, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 30; id. Trin. 4, 3, 42: amicitias utilitate, Ov. P. 2, 3, 8.
      So, to test, try, prove, examine the mind or heart: ipsi vos probate, Vulg. 2 Cor. 13, 5; cf. id. Zach. 13, 9; id. Psa. 138, 1 et saep.
  2. II. To esteem as good, serviceable, fit, just, etc.; to be satisfied with, to approve a thing (class.; cf. comprobare): quis est, qui non probet, qui non laudet? Cic. Mil. 28, 77: istam rationem laudo vehementer et probo, id. Fam. 7, 1, 5: Cato ea sentit, quae non probantur in vulgus, id. Par. prooem.; id. Fin. 2, 1, 1: Asia picem Idaeam maxime probat, Plin. 14, 20, 25, § 128.
    With objectclause: Caesar maxime probat coactis navibus mare transire et Pompeium sequi, Caes. B. C. 1, 29.
    1. B. In partic. (mil. t. t.), to approve for military service, to recruit, enlist: quo (die) primum probati sunt, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 30, 2.
    2. C. To declare any thing well done, to express approbation of, to approve a thing: laudant fabrum atque aedes probant, Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 20: domum, Cic. Fam. 5, 6, 3: villam, Liv. 4, 22: petentibus, ut ad opera probanda, anni et sex mensium tempus prorogaretur, id. 45, 15: plausu probatae puellae, Juv. 11, 164.
    3. D. To approve a person, to recognize as fit or worthy: ad unum Vercingetorigem probant imperatorem, Caes. B. G. 7, 63, 6: quā impudentiā est, eumne testem improbabit quem judicem probarit? Cic. Rosc. Com. 15, 45.
  3. III. To represent or show a thing to be good, serviceable, fit, right, etc., to make acceptable, to recommend; and: aliquid alicui, to convince one of any thing: quos (libros), ut spero, tibi valde probabo, Cic. Att. 4, 14, 1: officium meum P. Servilio, id. Verr. 2, 4, 38, § 82: causam alicui, id. Quint. 30, 92: nostrum officium ac diligentiam, id. Div. in Caecil. 22, 72: factum suum alicui, id. Att. 16, 7, 4: omnia facta dictaque mea sanctissimis moribus tuis, Plin. Ep. 10, 3 (20), 3.
    With de: quibus de meo celeri reditu non probabam, Cic. Att. 16, 7, 4: se alicui, to make one’s self acceptable: (Epicurus) multis se probavit, id. Fin. 2, 25, 81: quā in legatione (Ligarius) et civibus et sociis ita se probavit, ut, etc., id. Lig. 1, 2.
    Pass.: mihi egregie probata est oratio tua, has pleased, Cic. Tusc. 4, 4, 8.
    1. B. In partic., to make a thing credible, to show, prove, demonstrate: crimen, Cic. Fl. 37, 93: his ego judicibus non probabo, C. Verrem contra leges pecunias cepisse? id. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 10: causam paucis verbis, id. Balb. 21, 49: se memorem probare, grateful, id. Fam. 10, 24, 1: perfacile factu esse illis probat, conata perficere, Caes. B. G. 1, 3: hoc difficile est probatu, Cic. Tusc. 5, 1, 1: et patrio pater esse metu probor, my paternal fear shows that I am your father, Ov. M. 2, 91: sicut Thrasvmachi probat exitus, Juv. 7, 204.
      With se: malo praesens observantiā, indulgentiā, assiduitate memorem me tibi probare, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 24, 1.
    2. C. To represent, pass off a person for another: loquebantur suppositum in ejus locum, quem pro illo probare velles, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 30, § 78: quod tu istis lacrumis te probare postulas, Non pluris refert quam, etc., Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 101.
      So absol.: forma et aetas ipsast, facile ut pro eunucho probes, pass for one, Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 84.
      Hence, prŏbātus, a, um, P. a.
    1. A. Tried, tested, proved, of approved goodness, good, excellent (syn. spectatus).
      1. 1. Of persons: ceterarum homines artium spectati et probati, Cic. de Or. 1, 27, 124: ingeniosos et opulentos, et aetatis spatio probatos, id. Top. 19, 73: operum probatissimi artifices, Col. 11, 1, 6: probatissima femina, most excellent, Cic. Caecin. 4, 10.
      2. 2. Of things: argentum, Plaut. Pers. 4, 6, 1: probata experimento cultura, Quint. 10, 2, 2: boleti probatissimi, Plin. 16, 5, 11, § 31: probatissima palma, id. 23, 5, 52, § 98: probatissima statua, id. 34, 8, 19, § 53: probata et exspectata adulescentia, Lucil. ap. Non. 437, 13: moneta, Vulg. Gen. 23, 16.
    2. B. Transf., pleasing, agreeable: ut nemo probatior primoribus patrum esset, Liv. 27, 8: probatissimus alicui, Cic. Planc. 11, 27.