pro·bate 1 /'prō-ˌbāt/ n [Latin probatum, neuter of probatus, past participle of probare to test, approve, prove]
1 a: the process of proving in a court of competent jurisdiction (as a probate court) that an instrument is the valid last will and testament of a deceased person; broadly: the process of administering an estate
b: the judicial determination that a will is valid
2: the officially authenticated copy of a probated will
3 a: probate court
b: matters that fall under the jurisdiction of a probate court
probate 2 vt pro·bat·ed, pro·bat·ing
1: to establish (a will) as valid through probate
2 a: to put (a convicted offender) on probation
b: to replace (a sentence) with probation
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.