definitions

approbate

[ ap-ruh-beyt ]
/ ˈæp rəˌbeɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR approbate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ap·pro·bat·ed, ap·pro·bat·ing.

to approve officially.

RELATED WORDS

authorize, okay, confirm, consent, clear, sanction, accept, allow, pass, support, approve, endorse, OK

Nearby words

appro, approach, approach light, approach shot, approachable, approbate, approbation, approbative, appropriable, appropriacy, appropriate

Origin of approbate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin approbātus approved (past participle of approbāre), equivalent to ap- ap-1 + probātus proved; see probate

Related forms

ap·pro·ba·tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for approbate

  • We pick and choose, take and leave, approbate and reprobate in a breath.

    Obiter Dicta|Augustine Birrell

  • The Stadtholder was too wary a politician to approbate immediately so sweeping a proposal, and referred it to the States-General.

    The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 11|Various

  • Among the adjectives similarly preserved are to whittle, to wilt and to approbate.

    The American Language|Henry L. Mencken

British Dictionary definitions for approbate

approbate

/ (ˈæprəˌbeɪt) /

verb (tr)

Scots law to accept as valid
approbate and reprobate Scots law to accept part of a document and reject those parts unfavourable to one's interests
mainly US to sanction officially

Word Origin for approbate

C15: from Latin approbāre to approve, from probāre to test
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012