approbo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈap.prɔ.boː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈap.pro.bo]^[1]

Forms

approbō (present infinitive approbāre, perfect active approbāvī, supine approbātum); first conjugation^[1] It is also spelled adprobō.^[2]

Etymology

It is from ad- and probō “to test, approve”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of approving.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to approve, commend, as in Plautus, and in Vitruvius to make acceptable.^[2] In Catullus it meant to prove the worth of, in Pliny the Elder to show that something exists, and in Pacuvius to prove a prediction true.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to assent, approve, favour, establish, confirm.^[5] It survives in Italian approvare, French approuver and Spanish aprobar, and through Old French it gave English approve about 1300, first meaning “to prove”; its participle gave English approbate.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of approving.^[2][4]
• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of confirming.^[2][4]
• c. 1300 – English approve is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To approve, commend.^[2]
2. To make acceptable.^[2]
3. To prove the worth of; to show.^[2]
4. To confirm.^[2]

Word family

• approbātiō
• approbātor

Related words

• comprobō
• improbō
• probō
• reprobō
• English approve

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson