Search the Dictionary

Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile. -- Ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.

e assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer. Locke. The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. Prescott. Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration. Macaulay. Royal assent, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament, after which…

to presage; to infer. It seems to augur genius. Sir W. Scott. I augur everything from the approbation the proposal has met with. J. F. W. Herschel.

To censure; to express disapprobation of; to find fault with; to reproach. We have none to blame but ourselves. Tillotson.

information, for which spaces are left vacant; a bland form. The freemen signified their approbation by an inscribed vote, and their dissent by a blank. Palfrey.

Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate. This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind reprobation. Jay.

urmur, as of general conversation in low tones, or of a general expression of surprise or approbation. "The constant buzz of a fly." Macaulay.

To find fault with and condemn as wrong; to blame; to express disapprobation of. I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty. Shak.

To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses. Ex. xvii. 2.

To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [Obs.] Shak.

it, if you should lose it." L'Estrange. To claw (one) on the back, to tickle; to express approbation. (Obs.) Chaucer. -- To claw (one) on the gall, to find falt with; to vex. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act. Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of Achilles. Dryden.

That which is the ground of approbation or praise. Good nature is the most godlike commendation of a man. Dryden.

mon strife for the same objects; strife for superiority; emulous contest; rivalry, as for approbation, for a prize, or as where two or more persons are engaged in the same business and each seeking patronage; -- followed by for before the object sought, and with before the person or thing competed with. Competition to…

An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard, confidence, civility, or admiration; a flattering speech or attention; a ceremonious greeting; as, to send one's compliments to a friend. Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and lies. Milton. Many a compliment politely penned. Cowper.…

Approbation. [Obs.] Foxe.

oncern; participation; interposition. He married a daughter to the earl without any other approbation of her father or concernment in it, than suffering him and her come into his presence. Clarendon.

A meeting of minds; agreement in opinion; union in design or act; -- implying joint approbation. Tarquin the Proud was expelled by the universal concurrence of nobles and people. Swift.

The act of condemning or pronouncing to be wrong; censure; blame; disapprobation. In every other sense of condemnation, as blame, censure, reproof, private judgment, and the like. Paley.

ason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation. Whewell.