Forms: 4–7 aprove, 5–6 approuve, 6–7 approove, 5– approve. [a. OFr. aprove-r (now approuver):—L. app-, adprobā-re to make good, assent to as good, f. ad to + probā-re to try the goodness of, prove, f. prob-us good. Cf. APPREVE, a form repr. the tonic stem of the Fr. as in appreuve; and its pa. pple. APPROVEN. In some senses the word appears to represent Fr. éprouver, OFr. esprover, not otherwise found in English. See A- pref. 9.]
I. (= Fr. approuver.)
† 1. To make good (a statement or position); to show to be true, prove, demonstrate. a. simply. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Mic. vi. 9. Who shal aproue it?
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. vi. 141. They had lerned to approue the daye and tyme whan suche thynges [eclipses] shold happe.
1571. Digges, Geom. Pract., I. xx. F iij b. The rule … may two wayes be approued, geometrically and arithmetically.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. V. iii. § 15. 442. He had approued vnto the vulgar, the dignitie of his Science.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, V. x. (1840), 259. To approve the truth … thereof against some one who questioned.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. v. We demonstrate or approve our reckonings to other men.
† b. with subord. cl. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4746. Yhit for certayn approves noght he Þat þa fiften days of takens sal be.
1483. Caxton, Cato, E iiij b. I haue … approuyd that none may know the secretes of God.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., II. 72. This aproves unto us, that order is a cheefe rule in memorie.
† c. with complement. Obs.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 345/2. He was approoued guiltie at his arreignment.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 245. One thing … which must approue thee honest.
1644. Vind. Treat. Monarchy, iv. 20. I … doubt not to approve it firme truth.
1676–7. Marvell, Corr., 290. Wks. 1872–5, II. 527. Mr. Onslow was approved not to have been culpable.
† 2. To attest (a thing) with some authority, to corroborate, confirm. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Anticr. & Meynee (Todd), 137. Crist confermed his lawe and wiþ his deþ approved hit.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 79. What damned error, but some sober brow Will … approue it with a text?
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 183. The trembling emperor … solemnly approved the innocence and fidelity of their assassins.
b. with a thing as subject.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. Ded. 10. The success has approved this judgement.
1862. Trench, Mirac., Introd. 98. The miracles proving the doctrines, and the doctrines approving the miracles.
3. To demonstrate practically or to the experience of others, display, exhibit, make proof of. Also refl.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., 151. They by quicke repentaunce approue the amendement of their liues.
1670. Chester’s Tri. (1844), Chester, 15. Such Olympian sports as shall approve Our best devotion.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 56. Who … approved himself … valiantly at the taking of Strigonium.
1876. Emerson, Ess., Ser. II. iv. 104. Many opportunities to approve his stoutness and worth.
b. To display or exhibit to advantage. rare.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, iv. § 42. 133. The sculpture is approved and set off by the colour.
4. with compl. To show or prove practically (a thing or person) to be (so and so).
1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), IV. 4. Approv’d the most profound, and wise To solve Impossibilities.
1812. Byron, Childe Har., II. xxxv. ’Tis an old lesson; Time approves it true.
1865. Parkman, Champlain, i. (1875), 176. His account … approves him a man of thought and observation.
b. refl. To prove or show oneself practically to be.
1559. Abp. Hethe, in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. vi. 11. All such as shall approve themselves not to be the obedient children of Chryst’s churche.
1649. Selden, Laws of Eng., II. xi. (1739), 58. Edward the Third approved himself not only King of England, but of himself.
1656. Twisleton, in Burton, Diary (1828), I. 148. He was in Wales, and approved himself a very vile person.
1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., II. 305. The latter only approved himself a neighbour by acting agreeably to that character.
1840. Macaulay, Clive, 92. When he approved himself ripe for military command.
† c. intr. (refl. pron. omitted) To prove itself, prove, turn out to be. Obs. rare.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 372/1. If he will say that it was but inuention, it will approue false.
5. To confirm authoritatively; to sanction. Hence the techn. term: a. in Sc. Parl. for confirming, or deciding in the affirmative, by a vote of the house; b. for confirming the sentence of a court-martial.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, V. xiv. 82. Þere may no thing be approvid, ne affermed, but if it be founde in the feith.
1480. Bury Wills (1850), 59. I … by this my present testament … myne seyde mynde, wyll and entent … approue, ratifie, and conferme.
1590. Swinburn, Testaments, 40. The lawe dooth not approoue such testamentes.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., Pref. 13. The old may not be proued, because it is approued.
1726. in Wodrow Corr. (1843), III. 248. The vote was stated, Whether Approve the overture of the Committee, or Delay.
1816. C. James, Mil. Dict. (ed. 4), 141. The colonel or commanding officer approves the sentence of a regimental court martial.
6. To pronounce to be good, commend. a. trans.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Pseudo-Freris, iv. Wks. (1879), 306. Non word of iames approueþ þise newe religions.
1447. Bokenham, Lyvys of Seyntys (Roxb.), 31. Fully they approvyd al his entent.
1538. Starkey, England, 81. Vayn ornamentys by corrupt jugement commynly approvyd.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. ii. 149. I approue your Wisedom in the deede.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 391. Fools admire, but men of sense approve.
1803. Wellington, in Wellesley, Disp., 313. I entirely approve that precaution.
1878. Seeley, Stein, III. 522. Niebuhr … admired and approved the Revolution of 1688.
† b. with inf. phr. or subord. cl. Obs.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 36. That thing that thou approuedest to seche aboue alle other.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, A iv a. They will approve that Work men may have this little Book in their Pockets.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 880. Others who approve not to transgress By thy example.
c. intr. Const. (on obs.) of.
1658. R. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), 9. Our modern assertors and predicators approve on it.
1658–9. Gibbons, in Burton, Diary, III. 557. Such as shall be named and approved on by this House.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 2, ¶ 2. He has read all, but approves of very few.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., x. 149. Would his grandfather approve of what he had done.
7. trans. To recommend oneself, one’s qualities, actions, etc., as worthy of approval; to commend to.
1611. Bible, Pref., 1. We doe seeke to approue our selues to euery ones conscience.
1657. Cromwell, in Burton, Diary, I. 415. Without integrity, without sincerity, without approving the heart to God.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., ii. (1867), 49. If anticipations such as these approve themselves to reason.
II. [= mod.Fr. éprouver.]
† 8. To put to the proof or test of experience; to try, test. Obs.
1380. [See APPROVED].
1483. Caxton, Cato, D iiij. This rule is gyuen to euery man and approued of euery man.
1532. Hervet, Xenophon’s Househ. (1768), 64. Men of olde antyquitie, approuinge it by experience.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. i. 9. Nay, taske me to my word: approue me Lord.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch’s Lives (1879), I. 60/2. Neither fear nor rashness was likely to approve men so disposed.
† 9. To find by experience, to experience. Obs.
1578. Gorgious Gallery. A Louer approuing his Lady unkinde.
1591. Raleigh, Last Fight Rev., 24. Vnto them a spectacle, and a resolution sildome approued, to see one ship turne toward so many enemies.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xix. 101. He hath approved that government in himselfe.
