Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Approve
Ap-prove′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Approved
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Approving
.] 1.
To show to be real or true; to prove.
[Obs.]
Wouldst thou
First thy obedience.
approve
thy constancy? Approve
First thy obedience.
Milton.
2.
To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
Opportunities to
approve
. . . worth. Emerson.
He had
approved
himself a great warrior. Macaulay.
’T is an old lesson; Time
approves
it true. Byron.
His account . . .
approves
him a man of thought. Parkman.
3.
To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm;
as, to
. approve
the decision of a court-martial4.
To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of;
as, we
. approve
the measured of the administration5.
To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
The first care and concern must be to
approve
himself to God. Rogers.
☞ This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of), is often followed by of.
They had not
approved of
the deposition of James. Macaulay.
They
approved of
the political institutions. W. Black.
Ap-prove′
(ăp-proōv′)
, Verb.
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
.] (Eng. Law)
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Approve
APPROVE'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To like; to be pleased with; to admit the propriety of; as, we approve the measures of administration. This word may include, with the assent of the mind to the propriety, a commendation to others.2.
To prove; to show to be true; to justify.Would'st thou approve thy constancy? Approve first thy wisdom.
[This sense, though common a century or two ago, is now rare.]
3.
To experience; to prove by trial. [Not used. See Prove.]4.
To make or show to be worthy of approbation; to commend.Jesus, a man approved of God. Acts 2.
This word seems to include the idea of Christ's real office as the Messiah, and of God's love and approbation of him in that character.
5.
To like and sustain as right; to commend.Yet their posterity approve their sayings. Ps. 49.
This word, when it signifies to be pleased, is often followed by of, in which use, it is intransitive; as, I approve of the measure. But the tendency of modern usage is to omit of. 'I approve the measure.'
6.
To improve.