(v. a.P. a.) : prŏbo, āvi, ātum, āre, v. a.1. probus.
* To try, test, examine, inspect, judge of any thing in respect of its goodness, fitness, etc. (rare in class. Lat.; not in Cic. or Caes.; in eccl. Lat. very freq.).
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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,Cic. 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.
* 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.
* 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?Cic. 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.
* 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.
* Tried, tested, proved, of approved goodness, good, excellent (syn. spectatus).
* 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.
* Transf., pleasing, agreeable: ut nemo probatior primoribus patrum esset,Liv. 27, 8: probatissimus alicui,Cic. Planc. 11, 27.

s. TLL