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A proverbial phrase.

One who makes much use of proverbs in speech or writing; one who composes, collects, or studies proverbs.

To turn into a proverb; to speak in proverbs.

In a proverbial manner; by way of proverb; hence, commonly; universally; as, it is proverbially said; the bee is proverbially busy.

Great advance in age. [Obs.]

To show to be real or true; to prove. [Obs.] Wouldst thou approve thy constancy Approve First thy obedience. Milton.

So as to secure approbation; in an approved manner.

Approbation. I did nothing without your approvement. Hayward.

One who approves. Formerly, one who made proof or trial.

To take a counter proof of, or a copy in reverse, by taking an impression directly from the face of an original. See Counter proof, under Counter.

of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others.

One who disapproves.

To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of the earth.

To prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; to refute. That false supposition I advanced in order to disprove it. Atterbury.

One who disproves or confutes.

To disprove or make void; to refute. [Obs.] Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale.

promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc. I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair.

One who, or that which, improves.

To use for a bad purpose; to abuse; to misuse; as, to misimprove time, talents, advantages, etc. South.