approuver

Forms

approuver^[1] Old French aprover;^[2][3] Anglo-Norman also had approver, aprover and apruer.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French aprover, inherited from Latin approbō (“to approve, to prove”), formed of ad- and probō (“to test, to prove”).^[4][2][5][6] Wiktionary treats it instead as a borrowing from Latin adapted to the form of prouver.^[1] Bloch and Wartburg add that in the 16th century it also took the sense “to cause to be approved” as a Latinism.^[5]

Cognate with Italian approvare, Catalan aprovar and Spanish aprobar.^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

As approver it first meant “to prove, to demonstrate”, at the end of the 12th century.^[2][4][9]

Semantic evolution

In Old French the verb meant “to prove, to demonstrate” and “to agree to”.^[4] From the 13th to the 18th century it also meant “to experience, to realize”.^[4] The sense “to judge good, worthy of praise” (1250), with its special use “to authorize” (1538), drove out the others, which were shared out among prouver, éprouver and other verbs.^[4][5] Bloch and Wartburg date the end of the senses “prove” and “test” to the 16th century.^[5]

The past participle approuvé (1536) is used in the formula lu et approuvé, from which law made a noun un approuvé (1835).^[4] Of the verb's own derivatives only approuvable (1550) lived on; the role of related nouns is played by words taken from Latin, such as approbation (1295).^[4] The English verb approve was borrowed from Old French aprover about 1300.^[10]

Timeline

• Late 12th century – Approver is used for “to prove, to demonstrate”.^[2][4]
• 1250 – First recorded sense “to judge good, praiseworthy”.^[4]
• c. 1300 – English borrows the Old French verb as approven.^[10]
• 1535 – The opposite désapprouver appears.^[5]
• 1536 – The participle approuvé is recorded as an adjective.^[4]
• 1538 – Used for “to authorize”.^[4]
• 1835 – Un approuvé becomes a legal noun.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To give one's consent to something, to agree to it, especially with the authority to do so: Le conseil a approuvé le budget.^[9][11][8]
2. To judge good or praiseworthy, to approve of: Je n'approuve pas sa conduite.^[11][8][1]
3. (law, administration) To authorize or ratify by an official act.^[12][8]
4. (pronominal) s'approuver: to be satisfied with oneself, or (reciprocal) to agree with each other.^[11]

Word family

• désapprouver

Related words

• prouver
• approbation
• Latin approbō
• English approve

Usage notes

The formula lu et approuvé (“read and approved”) is written above a signature on a contract.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 52b
7. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
12. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse