Etymologically
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approbo

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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

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