proof

proof [pro͞of]

n.

[ME profe < OFr prueve < LL proba < L probare: see PROBE]

1. the act or process of proving; a testing or trying of something

2. anything serving or tending to establish the truth of something, or to convince one of its truth; conclusive evidence

3. the establishment of the truth of something [to work on the proof of a theory]

4. a test or trial of the truth, worth, quality, etc. of something [the proof of the pudding is in the eating]

5. the quality or condition of having been tested or proved

6. Obs. tested or proved strength, as of armor

7.

a) the relative strength of an alcoholic liquor with reference to the arbitrary standard for proof spirit

b) this standard, taken as 100 proof: see

8. PROOF SPIRIT

9. Engraving a trial impression taken from a plate, block, or stone

10. Law all the facts, admissions, and conclusions drawn from evidence which together operate to determine a verdict or judgment

11. Math. a process for checking the correctness of a computation, as, in a subtraction problem, by adding the difference to the subtrahend to get the minuend

12. Numismatics any of a limited number of coins of a new issue, struck with special care

13. Photog. a trial print of a negative

14. Printing an impression of composed type taken for checking errors and making changes

adj.

1. of tested and proved strength

2. impervious or invulnerable to; able to resist, withstand, etc.: with against [proof against criticism]

3. used in proving or testing

4. of standard strength: said of alcoholic liquors

vt.

1. to make a proof of

2. to make resistant or impervious to something

3. short for PROOFREAD

SYN.- PROOF, as compared here, applies to facts, documents, etc. that are so certain or convincing as to demonstrate the validity of a conclusion beyond reasonable doubt; EVIDENCE applies to something presented before a court, as a witness's statement, an object, etc., which bears on or establishes a fact; TESTIMONY applies to verbal evidence given by a witness under oath; EXHIBIT applies to a document or object produced as evidence in a court