[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

approve \approve"\, v. t. imp.  p. p. approved; p. pr. 
   vb. n. approving. oe. aproven, appreven, to prove, of.
   aprover, f. approuver, to approve, fr. l. approbare; ad +
   probare to esteem as good, approve, prove. see prove, and
   cf. approbate.
   1. to show to be real or true; to prove. obs.
      1913 webster

            wouldst thou approve thy constancy? approve
            first thy obedience.                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show
      practically.
      1913 webster

            opportunities to approve . . . worth. --emerson.
      1913 webster

            he had approved himself a great warrior. --macaulay.
      1913 webster

            't is an old lesson; time approves it true. --byron.
      1913 webster

            his account . . . approves him a man of thought.
                                                  --parkman.
      1913 webster

   3. to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to
      approve the decision of a court-martial.
      1913 webster

   4. to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to
      think well of; as, we approve the measured of the
      administration.
      1913 webster

   5. to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
      1913 webster

            the first care and concern must be to approve
            himself to god.                       --rogers.
      1913 webster

   note: this word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to
         think favorably of, is often followed by of.
         1913 webster

               they had not approved of the deposition of james.
                                                  --macaulay.
         1913 webster

               they approved of the political institutions. --w.
                                                  black.
         1913 webster
see also:
approved approving prove approbate 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

approve \approve"\ a^ppr=oov", v. t. of. aprouer; a l.
   ad + a form apparently derived fr. the pro, prod, in l.
   prodest it is useful or profitable, properly the preposition
   pro for. cf. improve. eng. law
   to make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; -- said
   esp. of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the
   manor.
   1913 webster
see also:
improve 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

approve
     v 1: give sanction to; "i approve of his educational policies"
          syn: o.k., okay, sanction ant: disapprove
     2: judge to be right or commendable; think well of ant: disapprove
see also:
o.k. okay sanction disapprove 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

139 moby thesaurus words for "approve":
   ok, accede to, accept, accord to, accredit, admire, adopt,
   affiliate, affirm, agree to, allow, amen, applaud, approve of,
   argue, assent, assent to, attest, authenticate, authorize,
   autograph, back up, be partial to, be willing, bear, bespeak,
   betoken, bless, breathe, carry, certify, clear, commend,
   compliment, condescend, condone, confirm, connive at, connote,
   consent, consent to silently, cosign, countenance, countersign,
   deign, demonstrate, denote, display, embrace, endorse, endure,
   espouse, esteem, evidence, evince, exhibit, express, favor,
   furnish evidence, give consent, give indication of,
   give permission, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur,
   give thumbs up, go along with, go for, go in for, go to show,
   grant, have no objection, have regard for, hold with, illustrate,
   imply, indicate, initial, involve, keep in countenance, like,
   manifest, mark, nod, nod assent, not refuse, notarize, okay, pass,
   pass on, pass upon, permit, point to, put up with, ratify,
   recommend, respect, rubber stamp, rubber-stamp, sanction,
   say amen to, say aye, say yes, seal, second, set forth, show,
   show signs of, sign, sign and seal, signalize, signify,
   speak for itself, speak volumes, stand by, subscribe to, suggest,
   support, sustain, swear and affirm, swear to, symptomatize,
   take kindly to, take up, tell, tend to show, think well of,
   tolerate, undersign, underwrite, uphold, validate, view with favor,
   visa, vise, vote affirmatively, vote aye, warrant, wink at,
   yield assent

Approve >> A Words
Approve, definition of term: Approve
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