approve English · revision 7975

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la approbo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈpɹuːv/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English approven, apreven, [[bor|fro|aprover|t=to approve, agree to]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin [[m|la|approbo|alt=approbāre|t=to assent to as good]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from ad-, to, and probāre, to test (see [[prove]]), from probus, honest, good.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The Middle English form apreven came from a stressed stem of the Old French verb and later died out.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To demonstrate, prove: about 1300 in Barnhart and Etymonline; 1340 in the OED; now obsolete.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ NODE traces the development from prove, demonstrate, to corroborate, confirm, and hence to pronounce satisfactory.^(NODE 1998) To confirm or commend is from about 1380, in Chaucer's Boethius,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and by the late 14th century it also meant to sanction or endorse formally, especially of authorities and parliaments.^(Etymonline) ''Approval'' is from 1690, rare before the 19th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to prove.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – to confirm, commend.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to sanction.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690 – approval.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To think or speak well of; to consider good or right.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To agree to formally; to [[authorize]] or [[sanction]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To prove or demonstrate.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[approvable]]

+ * [[approvingly]]

+ * [[approvedly]]

+ * [[approvedness]]

+ * [[disapprove]]

+ * [[preapprove]]

+ * [[reapprove]]

+ * [[approval]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[approbation]]

+ * [[prove]]

+ * [[probe]]

+ * [[reprove]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ MWU records a separate approve from Middle French aprouer, to cause to profit.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}