Part 553

Pro*ba"tion*er (?), n.

1. One who is undergoing probation; one who is on trial; a novice.

While yet a young probationer, And candidate of heaven.

Dryden.

2. A student in divinity, who, having received certificates of good morals and qualifications from his university, is admitted to several trials by a presbytery, and, on acquitting himself well, is licensed to preach. [Scot.]

Pro*ba"tion*er*ship, n. The state of being a probationer; novitiate. Locke.

Pro*ba"tion*ship, n. A state of probation.

Pro"ba*tive (?), a. [L. probativus: cf. F. probatif.] Serving for trial or proof; probationary; as, probative judgments; probative evidence. South.

Pro*ba"tor (?), n. [L.] 1. An examiner; an approver. Maydman.

2. (O. Eng. Law) One who, when indicted for crime, confessed it, and accused others, his accomplices, in order to obtain pardon; a state's evidence.

Pro"ba*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. probatoire.] 1. Serving for trial; probationary. Abp. Bramhall.

2. Pertaining to, or serving for, proof. Jer. Taylor.

Probatory term (Law), a time for taking testimony.

Probe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Probed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Probing.] [L. probare to try, examine. See Prove.]

1. To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe.

2. Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly. Dryden.

The growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts, of the crown.

Hallam.

Probe, n. (Surg.) An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc. Parr.

Probe, or Probe-pointed, scissors (Surg.), scissors used to open wounds, the blade of which, to be thrust into the orifice, has a button at the end. Wiseman.

Pro"bea`gle (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Porbeagle.

Probe"-point`ed (?), a. (Surg.) Having a blunt or button-shaped extremity; -- said of cutting instruments.

Prob"i*ty (?), n. [F. probitÈ, fr. L. probitas, fr. probus good, proper, honest. Cf. Prove.] Tried virtue or integrity; approved moral excellence; honesty; rectitude; uprightness. "Probity of mind." Pope.

Syn. -- Probity, Integrity. Probity denotes unimpeachable honesty and virtue, shown especially by the performance of those obligations, called imperfect, which the laws of the state do not reach, and can not enforce. Integrity denotes a whole-hearted honesty, and especially that which excludes all injustice that might favor one's self. It has a peculiar reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfer of property, and the execution of trusts for others.

Prob"lem (?), n. [F. problËme, L. problema, fr. Gr. &?; anything thrown forward, a question proposed for solution, fr. &?; to throw or lay before; &?; before, forward + &?; to throw. Cf. Parable. ]

1. A question proposed for solution; a matter stated for examination or proof; hence, a matter difficult of solution or settlement; a doubtful case; a question involving doubt. Bacon.

2. (Math.) Anything which is required to be done; as, in geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or, in algebra, to find an unknown quantity.

Problem differs from theorem in this, that a problem is something to be done, as to bisect a triangle, to describe a circle, etc.; a theorem is something to be proved, as that all the angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles.