Approve

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ap=prove

CIDE DICTIONARY

Approve, v. t. [OE. aproven, appreven, to prove, OF. aprover, F. approuver, to approve, fr. L. approbare; ad + probare to esteem as good, approve, prove. See Prove, and cf. Approbate.].

•  To show to be real or true; to prove.  [1913 Webster]

  "Wouldst thou approve thy constancy? Approve
  First thy obedience."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.  [1913 Webster]

  "Opportunities to approve . . . worth."  [1913 Webster]

  " He had approved himself a great warrior."  [1913 Webster]

  "'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true."  [1913 Webster]

  "His account . . . approves him a man of thought."  [1913 Webster]
•  To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial.  [1913 Webster]
•  To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of; as, we approve the measured of the administration.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.  [1913 Webster]

  " This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of), is often followed by of."  [1913 Webster]

  "The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God."  [1913 Webster]

  "They had not approved of the deposition of James."  [1913 Webster]

  "They approved of the political institutions."  [1913 Webster]

Approve, v. t. [OF. aprouer; a (L. ad) + a form apparently derived fr. the pro, prod, in L. prodest it is useful or profitable, properly the preposition pro for. Cf. Improve.].

 To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; -- said esp. of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Approve, v.
1 tr. confirm; sanction (approved his application).
2 intr. give or have a favourable opinion.
3 tr. commend (approved the new hat).
4 tr. archaic (usu. refl.) demonstrate oneself to be (approved himself a coward).

Idiom

approved school hist. a residential place of training for young offenders. approve of 1 pronounce or consider good or satisfactory; commend.
2 agree to.

Derivative

approvingly adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF aprover f. L (as APPROBATE)

THESAURUS

Approve

OK, accede to, accept, accord to, accredit, admire, adopt, affiliate, affirm, agree to, allow, amen, applaud, approve of, argue, assent, assent to, attest, authenticate, authorize, autograph, back up, be partial to, be willing, bear, bespeak, betoken, bless, breathe, carry, certify, clear, commend, compliment, condescend, condone, confirm, connive at, connote, consent, consent to silently, cosign, countenance, countersign, deign, demonstrate, denote, display, embrace, endorse, endure, espouse, esteem, evidence, evince, exhibit, express, favor, furnish evidence, give consent, give indication of, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, go along with, go for, go in for, go to show, grant, have no objection, have regard for, hold with, illustrate, imply, indicate, initial, involve, keep in countenance, like, manifest, mark, nod, nod assent, not refuse, notarize, okay, pass, pass on, pass upon, permit, point to, put up with, ratify, recommend, respect, rubber stamp, rubber-stamp, sanction, say amen to, say aye, say yes, seal, second, set forth, show, show signs of, sign, sign and seal, signalize, signify, speak for itself, speak volumes, stand by, subscribe to, suggest, support, sustain, swear and affirm, swear to, symptomatize, take kindly to, take up, tell, tend to show, think well of, tolerate, undersign, underwrite, uphold, validate, view with favor, visa, vise, vote affirmatively, vote aye, warrant, wink at, yield assent

ROGET THESAURUS

Approve

Approbation

VB approve, approbate, think good, think much of, think well of, think highly of, esteem, value, prize, set great store by, set great store on, do justice to, appreciate, honor, hold in esteem, look up to, admire, like, be in favor of, wish Godspeed, hail, hail with satisfaction, stand up for, stick up for, uphold, hold up, countenance, sanction, clap on the back, pat on the back, keep in countenance, indorse, give credit, recommend, mark with a white mark, mark with a stone, commend, belaud, praise, laud, compliment, pay a tribute, bepraise, clap the hands, applaud, cheer, acclamate, encore, panegyrize, eulogize, cry up, proner, puff, extol, extol to the skies, magnify, glorify, exalt, swell, make much of, flatter, bless, give a blessing to, have a good word for, say a good word for, speak well of, speak highly of, speak in high terms of, sing the praises of, sound the praises of, chaunt the praises of, resound the praises of, sing praises to, cheer to the echo, applaud to the echo, applaud to the very echo, cheer to the very echo, redound to the honor, redound to the praise, redound to the credit of, do credit to, deserve praise, recommend itself, pass muster, be praised, receive honorable mention, be in favor with, be in high favor with, ring with the praises of, win golden opinions, gain credit, find favor with, stand well in the opinion of, laudari a laudato viro.