proof

Proof may refer to: A rigorous, compelling argument, including:Mathematical proofProof theory, a branch of mathematical logic that represents proofs as formal mathematical objectsLogical argumentEvidence (law), tested evidence or a legal proofProof (alcohol), measure of an alcoholic drink's strengthProofing (baking technique), the process by which a yeast-leavened dough rises, also called "proving"ProofreadingArtist's proof, a single print taken during the printmaking processProof coinage, a coin made as an example of a particular strikeProof test, for a firearmGalley proof, a preliminary version of a publicationHomeopathic proving, testing a substance's effect on the body
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(v. t.)
Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof.
  

(n.)
The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
  

(n.)
That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
  

(n.)
Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.
  

(n.)
Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.
  

(n.)
A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; -- called also proof sheet.
  

(n.)
A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Cf. Prove, v. t., 5.
  

(a.)
Used in proving or testing; as, a proof load, or proof charge.
  

(a.)
Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof.
  

(a.)
Being of a certain standard as to strength; -- said of alcoholic liquors.
  

1. <logic> A finite sequence of well-formed formulas, F1, F2, ... Fn, where each Fi either is an axiom, or follows by some rule of inference from some of the previous F's, and Fn is the statement being proved.
See also proof theory.
2. A left-associative natural language parser by Craig R. Latta latta@xcf.berkeley.edu. Ported to Decstation 3100, Sun-4.
ftp://scam.berkeley.edu/pub/src/local/proof/.
E-mail: proof@xcf.berkeley.edu. Mailing list: proof-requestf@xcf.berkeley.edu (Subject: add me).
(1994-11-29)

The conviction or persuasion of the mind of a judge or jury, by the exhibition of evidence, of the reality of a fact alleged: as, to prove, is to determine or persuade that a thing does or does not exist. Proof is the perfection of evidence, for without evidence there is no proof, although, there may be evidence which does not amount to proof: for example, a man is found murdered at a spot where another had been seen walking but a short time before, this fact would be evidence to show that the latter was the murderer, but, standing alone, would be very far from proof of it.

Ayliffe defines judicial proof to be a clear and evident declaration or demonstration, of a matter which was before doubtful, conveyed in a judicial manner by fit and proper arguments, and likewise by all other legal methods; first, by proper arguments, such as conjectures, presumptions, indicia, and other adminicular ways and means; and, secondly, by legal method, or methods according to law, such as witnesses, public instruments, end the like.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.