[ad. L. applaud-ĕre, f. ap-, = ad- to + plaud-ĕre to clap, esp. the hands. Cf. Fr. applaudir, earlier aplaudir (14th c. in Litt.), app. not the immed. source of the Eng., though the early Sc. instance, in sense 2 b, may be an adoption from Fr., in which aplaudir à was an early const.]
1. intr. (and phr. applaud it, obs.) To clap the hands in expression of approbation; hence, to express approval in any loud or lively manner.
1598. Florio, Applaudere … to applaude or clap hands for ioy.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 107. Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds.
1605. [see 3].
1774. Goldsm., Retal., 114. If dunces applauded, he paid them in kind.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1806. There he kept the justice of the King So vigorously yet mildly, that all hearts Applauded.
1883. H. Irving, in Daily News, 31 Oct., 5/6. When the vision of the murdered Jew appears, and I scream as I fall to the ground, I was surprised to hear the audience applaud loudly.
† 2. To applaud to: a. To give approbation to.
1595. Spenser, Epithal., 144. The people standing all about … doe thereto applaud.
1685. trans. Gracian’s Court. Manual, 101. Men applaud to themselves in those [qualities] they have, how vulgar and ordinary soever they be.
† b. To express agreement with, assent to a thing as worthy of praise. (The earliest sense found.) Obs.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scotl., I. 11. Of thir Pichtis writis mony auld and recent authoris, to whom applaudis Cornelius Tacitus.
1635. Person, Varieties, I. x. 40. Unto that … Horace applaudeth, while he saith fortes creantur fortibus.
3. trans. To express approval of, in any audible manner.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 302. Till fields, and blowes, and groues applaud our sport. Ibid. (1605), Macb., V. iii. 54. I would applaud thee to the very Eccho, That should applaud again.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. VIII. 121. With one voice all applauded, or feigned to applaud the undertaking.
1883. Daily Tel., 15 May, 2/7. (Cricket) Peate was applauded on joining Wild.
4. To express approval of in any way; to approve of, praise.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. iii. 48. O that our Fathers would applaud our loues.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxv. 135. Those that have applauded the contrary opinion.
1769. Burke, Pres. State Nat., Wks. II. 15. Having highly applauded their conduct.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. 226. I applaud him for standing forward in defence of his friend.
b. refl.
1631. Preston, Breastpl. Love, 186. Men are ready to applaud themselves in their knowledge.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 256, ¶ 2. They … applaud themselves for the Singularity of their Judgment.
1805. Foster, Ess., IV. vi. 207. The heart applauds itself for feeling an irresistible captivation.
