This is the 1654th most frequent French word.
épreuve
A test, trial, or challenge.
In this sentence, 'épreuve' signifies a trial or a hardship, expressing a metaphorical test of resilience.
La vie nous met parfois à rude épreuve.
Life sometimes puts us through tough trials.
Here, 'épreuve' means proofs, commonly used regarding drafts or preliminary versions of printed works.
Le livre contient les premières épreuves de sa thèse.
The book contains the first proofs of her thesis.
Here, 'épreuve' is used to mean a test or an exam, referring to an academic challenge.