a. [ad. med.L. approbātōri-us (cf. L. probātōri-us), f. approbātōr-em: see prec. and -ORY.] Of or belonging to one who approves; of the nature of or tending to approbation or sanction. (Orig. in phr. letter approbatory = L. epistola probātōria.)
1548. Hall, Chron. Hen. V., an. 8 (R.). Letters approbatory and confirmacions of the peres of his realme.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., I. 181. God hath delivered in a sense this world to Satan, but not … by any approbatory act given him a Patent to vouch him his Vice-Roy.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. VI. i. 214. Robespierre, at first approbatory, knew not at last what to think.
