Use of Proceed and Proceed further?

Proceed means to continue or begin. Further is an undefined point along a path or process that you have already started. To “proceed further” means to continue along the same path from where you have traveled or proceeded already.

Some different usages:

You have a map and instructions that say “Proceed to X. At Point X proceed further to Point Y. At Point Y go no further but change course to Point Z.”

Proceed is a verb. Further is noun, I think. It might be a special kind of noun. Anyway, it expresses a distance—although it is an unspecified distance.

The use of further with proceed is to emphasize movement. It is not strictly necessary. However proceeding is more like normal moving forward, whereas proceeding further is more emphatic—proceeding with a little pressure.

@zenvelo; A good clear answer.

“Before we proceed” implies that we haven’t started or taken the first step..

“Before we proceed further” indicates that we have started and have to consider how to go on.

“Before we proceed with this drawing and hanging, we need a fair trial.”

“But before we proceed further, we need some volunteers with strong stomachs.”
This means that the jury has reached a verdict. Now what?

Further is not necessary in the sentences given. I would not use it.

Your understanding from your first two sentences is correct. “Proceed” is a verb expressing the action “to move on”. “Further” is an adverb, in this case modifying the verb “proceed”.

To say that “We cannot proceed to the next page,” is perfectly correct, succinct and clear. Excellent wording. To say that “We cannot proceed further,” is also correct and clear to someone who already understands that the “further” that you have in mind is “to the next page”.

To say that “We cannot proceed further to the next page,” is redundant.

“Further” is an adverb modifying the verb “proceed.” In your example it is indeed redundant. In fact, it is more than redundant; it suggests a prior action (as in @zenvelo‘s example) that may or may not have occurred and that is in any case irrelevant.

If I were editing that sentence, I would delete “further.”

The dictionary example you linked is clearly a spoken and not a written instance. A person might use that redundant modifier in casual speech, but it is not necessary, and it isn’t good formal written English. Here I think it’s included to underscore the meaning of “proceed.”

@CWOTUS has posted while I was typing and probably made my response redundant, but I’m going to post it anyway.

Thank you very much for in detail explanations.

Proceed is to continue .E.g., along a freeway, with a story….. in the sense that the original action will continue to the end.
E.g.“I will proceed to tell you why I am a genius.”

Proceed further is to continue to the next stage….. when some new action(s) will take place.

E.g. “You should have added the eggs, milk and flour and have beaten the mixture. Before we proceed further to dividing of the mixture into small cakes…”