Probe
/proʊb/noun
To investigate or test something carefully; also, a tool used for exploring or examining.
Did you know?Probe comes from Latin *probare*, “to test, prove, approve,” the same root behind *proof* and *approve*—so every probe is basically a ritual of making truth reveal itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pro-bʰh₂-
“to try, test, prove”
Latin
Latin
probare
“to test, examine, approve as good”
Late Latin
Latin
proba
“a proof, test”
Old French
Old French
prober
“to test, examine”
Middle English
English
proben
“to test or try”
Modern English
English
probe
“to investigate or examine carefully”