(a) To test (sb.), put to the test, try, tempt; test (sb.) by attacking; -- also refl.; (b) to test (someone's heart, virtue, or other qualities); match (one's strength against God); (c) to test (sth., a horse, an ox), assay, try; check the accuracy of (a weight or measure); (d) to select or test (recruits).

(a) To prove in practice or by test (sb., someone's way of life) worthy or satisfactory, prove (sb. virtuous, false, etc.); prove (oneself worthy) in action; prove (oneself to be a good knight, God, etc.); (b) to prove by testing (sth., that sth. is the case); prove by testing (sth. effective, genuine, valid, etc.); check (sth.); previnge knoueres, those who scrutinize their knowledge; (c) ppl. preved, of a person: tried and proved, experienced; (d) ppl. preved, of a person: acknowledged, authoritative; preved men of the five portes, ?civic officials of the Cinque Ports; ~ prince, worthy prince; ~ thef, a notorious thief; (e) ppl. preved, manifest, evident; of a fact: accepted; of a quality, a stone: tested and found genuine; ful preved, most certain.

(a) To approve of (sth.), sanction; agree with (an argument, God's truth); (b) to praise (sth.), commend; (c) ppl. preved, approved; of gold: pure; of money: current; of morals or behavior: excellent; preved acte in parlement, an Act of Parliament.

(a) To find out (sth.), discover, ascertain, realize; find (sth.); gain knowledge of (sth.); determine (a latitude), calculate (a quantity); preved oute, thoroughly calculated; treue preved, calculated exactly; (b) to discover by checking (sth., whether sth. is the case), check; ~ fat, check whether (soil) is fertile; (c) to find (sb. or sth. to be of a certain nature).

(a) To conduct an investigation, investigate; surg. use a probing instrument, probe a wound; (b) to investigate (sth.); examine (oneself), scrutinize; probe (the depth of a wound); evaluate (one's actions); ~ sight, adjudicate a beauty contest; (c) to observe (natural phenomena); recognize.

(a) To prove by argument or authority (sth., a proposition, that sth. is the case); prove by argument (sth. to be true, wicked, etc.); prove (one's intention, faith) genuine; ~ oute, prove (sth.) fully; provide proof by argument; (b) of something material, a fact or circumstance, an action; to afford proof of (sth.), prove (that sth. is the case); (c) to allege proof (that sth. is the case).

Law (a) To give adequate legal proof of (an accusation, a legal claim, status, debt, an agreement, etc.); also fig.; prove (that sb. is legitimate); ~ ayenes (on, upon), prove (an accusation) against (sb.); ~ of, prove (an accusation); ~ oute, prove (one's claim) fully; (b) to prove (sb. false, a felon, innocent, to have no malice, etc.); ~ for, prove (sb. innocent, a felon); hire sone preved, definitely identified as her son; (c) to prove by judicial or quasi-judicial combat (that sth. is the case); ~ on (upon) bodi, ~ with bodi (hondes); (d) to probate (a will); (e) to try (a case); -- used fig.

(a) To give an explanation (to sb.), explain; declare (sth.), assert, tell; pronounce (sb. false, etc.); to ~ the soth, wel for to ~, tell the truth; (b) to testify to (an accusation); bear witness (that sth. is the case), guarantee; ~ of, make (sb.) certain of (sth.); (c) to declare (oneself) bound (to sb.), engage (oneself); (d) to convict (sb.); ~ mid, convict (sb.) of (a crime); ~ doinge, convict (sb.) of doing (sth.); (e) to reprove (sb.); ~ of, rebuke (sb.) for (sth.).

(a) To demonstrate (sth.) in practice, make manifest; (b) to give an example or illustration; betoken (sth.), illustrate, exemplify; illustrate by example (that sth. is the case); (c) to reveal (a crime, pride); ~ with, detect (sb.) in (a shameful action); (d) to display (sth., a quality), evince; show (oneself to be proud).

To experience (sth.), suffer (woe, punishment); ~ of, feel the effect of (love, temptation), taste (food, water), have experience of (sth.); ~ japes, gain experience of (their) tricks.

(a) To strive; undertake a combat; endeavor (to do sth.); (b) to venture on (an action), engage in (a game); try out (a medicinal bath); ~ cut (dai), try (one's) luck; ~ lif, try out (a way of life); (c) to become a postulant of a religious order.

(a) To act; accomplish (sth.), carry out, bring about; also, refl. exert itself (to do sth.); ~ conclusioun, carry out an experiment; ~ malice upon, do harm to (sb.); (b) to exercise (a quality, virtue), practice; put (one's preaching) into practice; (c) ~ might, to strive one's utmost (to do sth.); (d) to improve (sth.).

(a) To thrive, succeed; (b) to get on (well, badly, etc.), turn out, come off; ~ to, achieve (perfection); beter preved, better off, happier; (c) to develop; of a lawsuit: go forward, proceed.

Impers. hit) preveth: (a) it is proved (that sth. is the case); (b) it turns out (well, better, etc., for sb.); (c) it happens, it occurs.

(a) To be found to be (good, a coward, etc.), turn out to be; turn out (in a certain way); (b) to be clear, evident; that preveth wel, that preveth, that is certain or obvious; (c) to be tested; of gold: be proved (pure) by testing; (d) to be found, be present.

To make (oneself) secure.