| 释义 |
prover|ˈpruːvə(r)|
Also 4 -ere, 5 -ar, -owr, (prower), 5–6 provour; β. 4 preuere, 5 prever.
[In sense 1, f. prove + -er1: = OF. proveor, prouvour. In 2 = Anglo-L. probātor (Bracton, Fleta ii. lii. §§42, 44), AF. provour, pruvour (Britton).]
I.
1. a. One who tries, tests, or puts to the proof. In quot. 1686, an assayer of metals. Obs. or arch.
1382Wyclif Jer. vi. 27 A stalwrthe prouere [1388 preuere, Vulg. probatorem] Y ȝaf thee in my puple, and thou shalt wite, and preue the weie of them. c1450tr. De Imitatione iii. iii. 67, I am rewarder of all gode men, & a miȝty prever of all deuoute men. 1535Coverdale Jer. vi. 27 The haue I set for a prouer of my harde people, to seke out and to trye their wayes. 1686Lond. Gaz. No. 2194/4 Chief Prover (or Assay-Master General of the Empire of Germany).
b. An instrument or apparatus for testing.
1751D. Jeffries Treat. Diamonds (ed. 2) 18 An instrument useful for examining the size and depth of any diamond, called a prover. 1862Catal. Internat. Exhib. II. xiii. 10 Woollen and linen provers.
c. Engraving. A skilled workman employed to print proof impressions: cf. prove v. 1 e.
1875Ure's Dict. Arts II. 289 In the principal houses there are generally employed from two to six men..whose duty it is to print proof impressions only [of an engraved plate]; they are called provers. 1900Daily News 18 Sept. 8/4 Process block prover on Albion Press wanted.
d. Homœopathy. A healthy person on whom the effect of a drug is tested. Cf. prove v. 1 f.
1843Brit. Jrnl. Homœopathy I. 162 The prover should choose a period when he is in the best of health. 1848C. J. Hempel tr. C. Hering in Jahr's New Manual I. p. viii, Every lover of homœopathy must bestow the most unbounded praise and admiration on the Austrian provers. 1902Encycl. Brit. XXIX. 312/2 The manifestations of drug action thus produced are carefully recorded, and this record..after being verified by repetition on many ‘provers’, constitutes the distinguishing feature of the homœopathic materia medica. 1931J. E. Barker Miracles of Healing vii. 102 It may seem easy to match the symptoms of a patient with a drug producing the same symptoms in healthy provers who have experimentally taken it. In reality this is exceedingly difficult. 1974Homoeopathy June/July 89 After taking the thirty powders the provers have a rest for a month, and then have a further thirty powders.
II.
†2. One who confesses a felony and gives evidence against his accomplices in order to secure their conviction; one who turns king's or state's evidence; one who undertakes to prove a criminal accusation against another: = approver1 1. Obs.
[1235–6Bracton's Note-bk. (1887) III. 174 Appellum unde duellum..inter quemdam probatorem et alium quemdam quem idem probator de societate appelauit contra coronam..Regis. 1275Act 3 Edw. I (1st Stat. Westm.) c. 15 Ceus queux sont appellez de provurs taunt come le provur vist. 1292Britton i. ii. §16 Qe les Corouners receyvent les reconisaunces de felonies fetes par provours en presence del viscounte.] c1400Apol. Loll. 69 Oiþer he schal dampne þe prouar, or..schal iuge þe vngilty. 1444Rolls of Parlt. V. 111/2 He knowleched diverse Felonies and Tresons, and becam a provowr. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 264 Jugement is done before a juge be a provour and a defendour and witnes. 1588Lambarde Eiren. iii. ii. 344 A Prouour..must beginne with confession of his owne fault, before he may be permitted to burthen an other man. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxiv. 851/2 Suffer neither the said prouer, nor defender to take any of their weapons. 1769Blackstone Comm. IV. xxv. 330 He is called an approver or prover, probator, and the party appealed or accused is called the appellee.
3. One who shows something to be true; a demonstrator. rare.
1738Warburton Div. Legat. III. ii. App. 34 He will bring several Testimonies to prove it... And on such Occasions..he is a most unmerciful Prover. 1850Browning Christmas Eve iv, Truth remains true, the fault's in the prover. |