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Having pure blood, or a large admixture or pure blood; of approved breed; of the best stock.

pect attention, or steady rectitude, escape blame from censors who have no inclination to approve. Rambler.

The thing or person chosen; that which is approved and selected in preference to others; selection. The common wealth is sick of their own choice. Shak.

To pronounce to be wrong; to disapprove of; to censure. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemned ere it be done. Shak. Wilt thou condemn him that is most just Job xxxiv. 17.

ceeding, as if not aware of it; -- usually followed by at. To connive at what it does not approve. Jer. Taylor. In many of these, the directors were heartily concurring; in most of them, they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they were conniving. Burke. The government thought it expedient, occasionally…

To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet. This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason. Sir T. Browne. Error supports custom, custom countenances error. Milton.

A standard of judging; any approved or established rule or test, by which facts, principles opinions, and conduct are tried in forming a correct judgment respecting them. Of the diseases of the mind there is no criterion. Donne. Inferences founded on such enduring criteria. Sir G. C. Lewis.

er; to desire the removal of; to seek deliverance from; to express deep regret for; to disapprove of strongly. His purpose was deprecated by all round him, and he was with difficulty induced to adandon it. Sir W. Scott.

Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove.

To mention with disapprobation; to blame; to disapprove. [R.] Spenser. By commending something in him that is good, and discommending the same fault in others. Jer. Taylor.

To regard with dislike or aversion; to disapprove; to disrelish. Every nation dislikes an impost. Johnson.

To disallow; to disapprove of. [Obs.] Stirling.

pinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice. Approve the best, and follow what I approve. Milton. Follow peace with all men. Heb. xii. 14. It is most agreeable to some men to follow their reason; and to others to follow their appetites. J. Edwards.

make her good. Shak. Convenient numbers to make good the city. Shak. -- To think good, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with; to consider expedient or proper. If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. Zech. xi. 12.

To approve; to allow; to confirm; as, the court homologates a proceeding. Wheaton.

withstanding; yet; still; though; as, I shall not oppose your design; I can not, however, approve of it. In your excuse your love does little say; You might howe'er have took a better way. Dryden.

Etym: [A word not fully approved, but sometimes used for the adverb ill.]

To disapprove of; to disallow. [Obs.]

To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. [Obs.] Chapman. When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing. Tyndale.

To give one's name or support to; to sanction; to aid by approval; to approve; as, to indorse an opinion. To indorse in blank, to write one's name on the back of a note or bill, leaving a blank to be filled by the holder.