prosper
UK[ˈprɒspə(r)]US[ˈprɑːspər]
v
To develop in a successful way; to be successful, especially financially.
Etymology
The word 'prosper' has a hopeful origin, tracing back to the Latin phrase pro spere, meaning 'according to hope'. The Latin adjective prosperus described a fortunate state aligned with one's hopes. This evolved into the verb prosperare, 'to cause to succeed', which passed into Old French before entering Middle English. Thus, the modern abstract meaning of thriving and achieving success retains its ancient connection to favorable outcomes born of hope and expectation.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It entered English as a whole from Old French prosperer, which came from Latin prosperare meaning 'to cause to succeed'. The Latin root is prosperus ('doing well, fortunate'), likely from pro spere, from pro- ('for, according to') and spes ('hope').
Examples
The business began to prosper after the new management took over.
May you prosper in all your future endeavors.
The region prospered during the years of peace and stable trade.