3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Approve  \Ap*prove"\  ([a^]p*pr[=oo]v"),  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}.]  (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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Approve  \Ap*prove"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Approved};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Approving}.]  [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}.] 
  1.  To  show  to  be  real  or  true;  to  prove.  [Obs.] 
 
  Wouldst  thou  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-martial. 
 
  4.  To  regard  as  good;  to  commend;  to  be  pleased  with  to 
  think  well  of  as  we  approve  the  measured  of  the 
  administration. 
 
  5.  To  make  or  show  to  be  worthy  of  approbation  or  acceptance. 
 
  The  first  care  and  concern  must  be  to  approve 
  himself  to  God.  --Rogers. 
 
  Note:  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  approve 
  v  1:  give  sanction  to  "I  approve  of  his  educational  policies" 
  [syn:  {ok},  {okay},  {sanction}]  [ant:  {disapprove}] 
  2:  judge  to  be  right  or  commendable;  think  well  of  [ant:  {disapprove}] 

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