prŏbus, a, um, adj. [Sanscr. prabhus, prominent, strong, from pra (v. pro) and bhu = fio],
I good , proper , serviceable , excellent , superior , able; esp. in a moral point of view, upright , honest , honorable , excellent , virtuous , etc. (class.).
A Of persons: frugi et probum esse, Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 53: probum patrem esse oportet, qui gnatum suom esse probiorem, quam ipsus fuerit, postulat, id. Ps. 1, 5, 23: cantores probos, skilful , excellent , fine , id. ib. 3, 132: faber, id. Poen. 4, 2, 93: architectus, id. Mil. 3, 3, 40: artifex, Ter. Phorm. 259: lena, Plaut. Truc. 2, 1, 14: amator, id. ib. 20: ad aliquam rem, fit , id. Poen. 3, 3, 67. —
2 In partic., well-behaved , well-conducted : quam cives vero rumificant probam, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 46: proba et modesta (mulier), Ter. Ad. 930.—
B Of things abstr. and concr.: affer huc duas clavas, sed probas, Plaut. Rud. 3, 5, 20: argentum, id. Pers. 4, 3, 57: nummi, id. ib. 3, 3, 33: materies, id. Poen. 4, 2, 93: occasio, id. Cas. 5, 4, 2: navigium, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 31, 100: res, id. Or. 51, 170: ager, Col. Arbor. 3, 6: sapor, id. ib. 3, 7?? color, id. ib. 8, 2.—Prov.: proba merx facile emtorem reperit, the best goods sell themselves , Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 129; cf.: probae fruges suāpte naturā enitent, Acc. ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 5, 13.—As subst.: prŏbus , i, a good , worthy , upright man: poëta peccat, cum probi orationem adfingit improbo stultove sapienti, Cic. Or. 22, 74.—Adv., in two forms.
A Form prŏbē , rightly , well , properly , fitly , opportunely , excellently (class.): milites armati atque animati probe, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 18: aedes factae probe, id. Most. 1, 2, 19?? probe lepideque concinnatus, id. Men. 3, 2, 1: usque adhuc actum est probe, id. Mil. 2, 6, 107: probe curare aliquid, id. Rud. 2, 3, 50: satis scite et probe, id. Trin. 3, 3, 56: narras, Ter. And. 970: intellegere, id. Eun. 768: Antipater, quem tu probe meministi, Cic. de Or. 3, 50, 194: de aquaeductu probe fecisti, id. Att. 13, 6, 1: scire, id. Fam. 2, 12, 2: exercitus satis probe ornatus auxiliis, id. ib. 2, 10, 2: illud probe judicas, id. Att. 7, 3, 3: de Servio probe dicis, id. Brut. 41, 151; id. Off. 1, 19, 62: scire, id. Brut. 2, 12; Liv. 22, 15.—
2 Transf., in gen., well , fitly , thoroughly , very , very much , greatly , finely , capitally , bravely (syn.: plane, omnino, sine dubio): appotus probe, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 126: percutere aliquem, id. ib. 1, 1, v. 162: decipere, id. ib. 1, 1, v. 268: errare, id. ib. 3, 3, 20: vide, ut sit acutus culter probe, id. Mil. 5, 4: tui similis est probe, Ter. Heaut. 1020: perdocta est probe, id. ib. 361. —In responses, as a token of applause, well done! good! bravo! unde agis te? Ca. Unde homo ebrius. Philo. Probe, Plaut. Most. 1, 4, 28: miles concubinam intro abiit oratum suam, ab se ut abeat. Acr Eu, probe! id. Mil. 4, 4, 9: probissime, very well , Ter. Ad. 419; id. Eun. 773.—
B Form prŏbĭter , well , fitly , capitally (ante-class.), Varr. ap. Non. 510, 29; cf. Prisc. p. 1010.