A particular piece of evidence that is sufficient to show or helps to establish
a fact.
The establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration.
Math. Logic: A sequence of statements that establishes the truth
of a proposition.
Etymology (EN): M.E. prove, prooff, prof, proufe,
O.Fr. prueve, from L.L. proba “a proof,” a back-formation from L. probare
“to prove,” from probus “worthy, good, upright,” from PIE *pro-bhwo-
“being in front,” from → pro- + *bhu- “to be;” cf.
Pers. budan “to be,” → condition.
Etymology (PE): Ãvin, on the model of Ger. Beweis “proof,” from weisen
“to show, point out;” O.E. witan “to see.” âvin “to show, see,”
from intensive prefix â- + vin “to see”
(as in a large number of dialects),
variant bin, present stem of didan “to see;”
Mid.Pers. wyn-; O.Pers. vain- “to see;”
Av. vaēn- “to see;”
cf. Skt. veda “I know;” Gk. oida “I know,” idein “to see;” L.
videre “to see;” Ger. weisen “to show,” as above;
PIE base *weid- “to know, to see.”
