approve

Where does the word "approve" come from? It comes from Latin probare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Approve’s story begins in Latin: probare meant “to test, to prove.” To test, to prove, combined with ad- (to). Within Latin, it grew into approbare by ancient. To prove thoroughly, to sanction, from ad- and probare. From there it passed into Old French as aprover by medieval. Carried into French for officially agreeing to something. It reached English by 1300s as approve. Settled as the English word for officially agreeing to or thinking well of something. Today, approve means to officially agree to something, or to have a favorable opinion of it.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient probare "to test, to prove", to test, to prove, combined with ad- (to).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient approbare "to prove thoroughly, to sanction", to prove thoroughly, to sanction, from ad- and probare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval aprover "to officially agree to something", carried into French for officially agreeing to something.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s approve "to officially agree to something, or to think well of it", settled as the English word for officially agreeing to or thinking well of something.