approve

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to judge to be right or commendable

   I approve of your dictionary.

2. 2
   verb

   to give sanction to

   I approve of their educational policies.

3. 3
   verb

   To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.

   Although we may disagree with it, we must nevertheless approve the sentence handed down by the court-martial.

4. 4
   verb

   To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.

   We approve the measure of the administration, for it is an excellent decision.

5. 5
   verb

   To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.

   He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour.

6. 6
   verb

   To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.

   Her mother never approves of any of her boyfriends. She thinks nobody is good enough for her little girl.

7. 7
   verb

   To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits of.

   The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God.

8. 8
   verb

   To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit — said especially of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH-der. Proto-Italic *proβwos Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Proto-Italic *proβwāō Latin probō Latin approbōder. Old French aproverbor. Middle English aproven English approve From Middle English aproven, appreoven, appreven, aprev…