approve

Meaning

Verb

• To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.
• To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.
• To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
• To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.
• To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits of.
• 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.

Origin

• From Middle English aproven, appreoven, appreven, apreven, borrowed from Old French aprover, approver, approuvir, appreuver, from Latin approbō, from ad + probō. approbate. Compare prove.
• From Middle English approuen, approven, from Old French aprouer; a- + a form apparently derived from the pro, prod, in Latin prōsum ("be useful or profitable"). Compare with improve.