approbate

[ap-ruh-beyt]

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

to approve officially.

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. 2019

Related Words for approbate

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

Examples from the Web for approbate

Historical Examples of 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

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

Word Origin and History for approbate

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