To approve. Obs. in England for two centuries. (N.E.D.)
1802. A Boston editor, in a rage for approbating Mr. Jefferson’s mode of addressing Congress.—The Balance, Jan. 26, p. 27/3 (Hudson, N.Y.).
1802. The administration of Governor Strong is generally and thoroughly approbated.—Mass. Spy, March 31.
1812. “Diplomas for Physicians and Graduates engrossed according to the latest form approbated by the President of Harvard University” advertised by C. Edwards, Public Copyist: Boston Gazette, June 25.
1859. In this law the Lord does not disapprobate the principle…. Certainly, if the Lord did not intend to approbate a crime, he would have reproved him for polygamy, if polygamy were a crime.—Orson Pratt, Mormon Tabernacle, July 24: ‘Journal of Discourses,’ vi. 352–3.
1861. While they [the Mississippi delegates] regret the necessity for this action, they approbate it, and will return to her bosom to share her fortunes through all their phases.—O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ i. 192.
