probative
/ˈproʊ.bə.tɪv/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.05 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Tending to prove a particular proposition or to persuade someone of the truth of an allegation.
Formal
Example Sentences
- "The judge had granted the DA a one-week extension with the caustic admonition that the case would be summarily dismissed if at that time probative, as opposed to prejudicial, evidence was not produced."
- "My grandfather in person organized the file with a surfeit of sworn testimonies and probative documents […]"
Etymology
From Middle English probatiffe, from Old French probatif, from Latin probātīvus (“belonging to proof”), from Latin probare (“show, prove, demonstrate”) (See prove). Originally in terme probatiffe (“a period of time assigned for the proving of an allegation”). First attested in the mid-15th century.
Origin
- Source language: Middle English
- First known use: First attested in the mid-15th century
Word Breakdown
- Root: probatiffe, probatif, probativus, probare
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈproʊ.bə.tɪv/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more probative (comparative)
most probative (superlative)