prŏbātĭo, ōnis, f. [probo].
I A trying , proving; a trial , inspection , examination (class.): athletarum probatio, Cic. Off. 1, 40, 144: futura, id. Verr. 2, 1, 54, § 142; Varr. R. R. 1, 20, 1: oesypi, Plin. 29, 2, 10, § 36: croci sinceri, id. 21, 6, 17, § 32: pumicis, id. 36, 21, 42, § 155: gemmae recusant limae probationem, id. 37, 13, 76, § 200: equitum, a review , Val. Max. 2, 2, 9.—
II In partic.
A Approbation , approval , assent (class.): ob probationem pretium datum, Cic. Font. 4, 17: tale visum nullum esse ut perceptio consequatur, ut autem probatio, multa, i. e. the assent of belief , though not the direct evidence of the senses , id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 31, 99.—
B Proof , demonstration (post-Aug.), Quint. 5, 10, 8: firma, id. 11, 3, 2: potentissimae, id. 5, 10, 103: ad cujus rei probationem immittit indices, Just. 32, 2, 9: oculorum, ocular demonstration , Plin. 2, 2, 2, § 5.—
C In partic., in rhet., the third part of a discourse , also called confirmatio or fides orationis, in which the orator enumerates his arguments , Quint. 3, 9, 1.