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Worthy of being approved; meritorious. -- Ap*prov"a*ble*ness, n.

To prove or evince; too manifest or exhibit by inference, deduction, or reasoning. So many laws argue so many sins. Milton.

propositions, not known or admitted as true, from facts or principles known, admitted, or proved to be true. Which manner of argumentation, how false and naught it is, . . . every man that hath with perceiveth. Tyndale.

blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor. Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. Robertson.

Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.] Chaucer. I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance. Milton.

Capable of being associated or joined. We know feelings to be associable only by the proved ability of one to revive another. H. Spencer.

philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is sometimes denominated the Epicurean philosophy. -- Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate parti…

Of approved authority; true; trustworthy; credible; as, an authentic writer; an authentic portrait; authentic information.

To prove authentic; to determine as real and true; as, to authenticate a portrait. Walpole.

To assert, or prove, the truth of. [Obs.]

A positive statement of facts; an allegation; an offer to justify or prove what is alleged.

To make or prove to be a bastard; to stigmatize as a bastard; to declare or decide legally to be illegitimate. The law is so indulgent as not to bastardize the child, if born, though not begotten, in lawful wedlock. Blackstone.

eave to; as, I beg to inform you. -- To bag the question, to assume that which was to be proved in a discussion, instead of adducing the proof or sustaining the point by argument. -- To go a-begging, a figurative phrase to express the absence of demand for something which elsewhere brings a price; as, grapes are so p…

One who assumes in argument what he does not prove. Abp. Tillotson.

Left a distance by, in progress of improvement Hence: Inferior to in dignity, rank, knowledge, or excellence, or in any achievement. I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 2 Cor. xi. 5.

To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change.

to gain an advantage over, whether fairly or unfairly. -- To make the best of. (a) To improve to the utmost; to use or dispose of to the greatest advantage. "Let there be freedom to carry their commodities where they can make the best of them." Bacon. (b) To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the…

To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive; as, to betray a person or a cause. But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me. Johnson.

Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.

A making better; amendment; improvement. W. Montagu.