Language Of Confusion: Per-, Part I

This series is going to be super long, because the Proto Indo European per-, forward has spawned a LOT of words, most of which I’ve never looked at before. So it’s going to be busy, is what I’m saying.
 
First, the word that sent me down this rabbit hole: prove. It showed up in the thirteenth century from the Old French prover/pruver, from the classical Latin probare, to prove, which is from the PIE pro-bhwo, being in front, and that pro- is from -per. Proving is putting stuff in front? I guess I can see it on a figurative level. Proof is pretty close, showing up in the same century but from the Anglo French prove/preove, Old French proeve/prueve, and Late Latin proba, which is then from probare. There doesn’t seem to be a real reason for the V to F thing, other than some words (relief, belief) just do that. Fun fact, proof in use of alcohol is from 1705, because its degree of strength was tested (or proven).
 
Similarly, there’s approve, which showed up in the fourteenth century. That was aprover in Old French, and approbare in Latin, so there really hasn’t been much variation over the years. With the prefix ad- meaning to, approbare is literally to forward something, and figuratively it means to test something, which I guess would move it forward. There’s also improve, which showed up in the late fifteenth century, actually meaning to increase income, which of course leads to things improving. It’s from the Anglo French emprouwer, which is a mix of the prefix em-, which is causative here, and prou, which means… profit. And that’s not the end, either. Prou comes from the classical Latin prode, again, profit, the origin word for proud.
 
Yes, proud is related. It comes from the Old English prud/prute, also just proud. That’s from the Old French prud, from the adjective prouz (which actually means brave or valiant), which is from the Latin prode. And there’s also probe, which showed up in the early fifteenth century specifically meaning a flexible rod for exploring wounds or body cavities (ew). It was taken directly from the Medieval Latin proba, which is from probare. Because you’re testing the body. With a probe. Again, ew.
 
One more for today, profit, which was already mentioned a few times. It showed up in the mid thirteenth century from the Old French profit/profit and classical Latin profectus, growth, so yes, it does not come directly from the Latin word for profit. Profectus is from the verb proficere, to make progress, with facere meaning to do and the pro meaning forward, taken from per-.
 
Sources
Online Etymology Dictionary
Google Translate
Omniglot
Dictionary.com
University of Texas at Austin Linguistic Research Center
University of Texas at San Antonio’s page on Proto Indo European language
Tony Jebson’s page on the Origins of Old English
Old English-English Dictionary
Dictionary of Medieval Latin
Fordham University
Orbis Latinus

September Goals

Well, I’m back on the internet, and I think we can all agree that’s a mistake. Though really, it’s the internet that’s the mistake. Just… all of it. Anyway, goals or whatever.
 
August Goals
1. Actually attempt to find more writer spaces and beta readers this month.
Like I had the energy to do this. I barely have the energy to talk to all the people I already know.
 
2. Find something that seems fun to work on.
Eh, kind of. I’m still feeling burnt out on everything, though, and it’s a process to getting back to normal.
 
3. Birthday. I’m looking forward to it with some trepidation. Did you know the bakery that makes my favorite cake had a fire and is now closed? And there’s no news as to when they’ll open again?
Miraculously, something went right this month and the bakery opened just two weeks before my birthday.
 
And now for September…
 
September Goals
1. Find something new to write that actually interests me.
 
2. Edit something old to post on my other site. Luckily I have tons of options.
 
3. Try to read some more. Maybe this will help me recharge.
 
This is what I hope to do this month. What do you want to do?

Vacation Photos #4

Where’s Bluey? And where did that mysterious lump in the bed come from?

Another mystery solved. I’ll be back next week. Probably. If I’m not, you’ll probably read about what I did on the news.

Vacation Photos #3

Bluey still seems so small, and yet when she stretches out…

I spent ten minutes looking for Peaches before I realized she was tucked away in the corner of my bed.