I.v. n and a. [pro-facio], to go forward, advance, gain ground, make progress.
I. Lit. (very rare): “cum quinqueremis sola non proficeret,” Plin. 32, 1, 1, § 4.—
II. Trop., to go on, advance, make progress; to profit, derive advantage; to perform, effect, accomplish, obtain, etc. (class.; cf. procedo).
A. Of persons: “si nihil in oppugnatione oppidi profecisset,” Caes. B. G. 7, 20: “ubi diligentiā nostrorum nihil his rebus profici posse intellexerunt,” id. ib. 3, 21: “plus multitudine telorum,” id. ib. 7, 82: “loci opportunitate,” id. B. C. 3, 23: “antesignani tantum profecere, ut pellerent omnes,” id. ib. 3, 75: “multum profecit,” Nep. Eum. 10, 1: si modo in philosophiā aliquid profecimus, have made any progress, Cic. Off. 3, 8, 37: “ea,” id. de Or. 2, 21 fin.—Of the sick, to get better: “si quidquam profecerint, Cael. Aur Acut. 2, 10, 71 proficiens aegrotus,” id. ib. 2, 11, 81—
B. Of manim subjects, to grow, increase (mostly post-Aug.): “id (vitis genus) quod umore proficit,” Col. 3, 20: “proficiente pretio,” rising, Plin. 14, 4, 6, § 57.—In pass.: “sed etiam ad summam profectum aliquid puto,” Cic. Att. 7, 13, 1: “postquam nihil proficiebatur,” Plin. 6, 26, 30, § 122.—In a bad sense: “proficere in pejus,” to become worse and worse, Vulg. 2 Tim. 3, 13.—
2. In partic., to be useful, serviceable, advantageous, etc., to effect, accomplish; to help, tend, contribute, conduce (class.; cf. “prosum) ea suo quaeque loco, ubi plurimum proficere et valere possent, collocabat,” Cic. Brut. 37, 139: “nulla res tantum ad dicendum proficit, quantum scriptio,” id. ib. 24, 92; “Liv 3, 61: profectura aliquid tum tua verba puta, Ov P. 3, 1, 138: aut nihil in melius tot rerum proficit usus?” Juv. 13, 18.—Of remedies: “radice vel herbā Proficiente nihil,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 150; nec alia res celerius proficit, is of service, Plin 27, 11, 72, § “96: axungia proficit ad strumas,” id. 28, 9, 37, § 140; “pirorum ligni cinis contra fungos efficacius proficit,” id. 23, 7, 62, § 116: “radix anethi vel in febribus proficit,” id. 20, 23, 98, § 260.—Impers.: “multum proficiet illud demonstrare, quemadmodum scripsisset,” Cic. Inv. 2, 41, 120.—Hence, prōfĭcĭenter , adv., successfully (eccl. Lat.), Aug Ep. 80: incedere, Hil. Trin. 1, 22; Cassiod in Psa. 133, 2.
