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approbate

[ap-ruh-beyt]
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verb (used with object), ap·pro·bat·ed, ap·pro·bat·ing.
  1. to approve officially.
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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 formsap·pro·ba·tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

authorizeokayconfirmconsentclearsanctionacceptallowpasssupportapproveendorseOK

Examples from the Web for approbate

Historical Examples

  • 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.

  • 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

verb (tr)
  1. Scots law to accept as valid
  2. approbate and reprobate Scots law to accept part of a document and reject those parts unfavourable to one's interests
  3. mainly US to sanction officially
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Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for approbate

v.

late 15c., from Latin approbatus, past participle of approbare "to assent to (as good), favor" (see approve). Related: Approbated; approbating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper