Approbate

Approbate is a verb meaning to approve, sanction, or endorse something, typically in a formal or official capacity. It derives from the Latin approbare, through Old French approber. The related noun approbation denotes formal approval or endorsement, and the adjective approbative describes language or actions that express approval.

Historically, approbate appears in legal and administrative contexts, often alongside the related term disallow or disapprove. In certain periods and systems, authorities used the pair “approbate and disallow” to indicate whether a proposal, act, or law was formally sanctioned or rejected. In contemporary English, approbate is largely archaic or literary; most modern writing uses approve, authorize, or sanction instead.

Usage and nuance: approbate carries a ceremonial or authoritative connotation, reflecting formal validation by a person or body with power to grant approval. Because it is uncommon in everyday speech, it is主要 found in historical documents, scholarly works, or stylistic writing. For example, one might encounter a sentence like, “The council approbated the charter,” though “approved” would be the standard modern choice.

Related terms include approve, sanction, endorse, authorize, and the noun approbation. The term remains a useful point of reference in studies of legal history or rhetoric, illustrating how formal approval has been framed in different eras.

See also: approbation, disapproval, approval process, legal terminology.