APPROVING
approving, affirmative, approbative, approbatory, plausive
(adjective) expressing or manifesting praise or approval; “approbative criticism”; “an affirmative nod”
blessing, approval, approving
(noun) the formal act of approving; “he gave the project his blessing”; “his decision merited the approval of any sensible person”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Adjective
approving (comparative more approving, superlative most approving)
Expressing approbation; commending
Verb
approving
present participle of approve
Source: Wiktionary
Ap*prov"ing, a.
Definition: Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile.
– Ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.
APPROVE
Ap*prove", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Approved; p. pr. & vb. n. Approving.]
Etym: [OE. aproven, appreven, to prove, OF. aprover, F. approuver, to
approve, fr. L. approbare; ad + probare to esteem as good, approve,
prove. See Prove, and cf. Approbate.]
1. To show to be real or true; to prove. [Obs.]
Wouldst thou approve thy constancy Approve First thy obedience.
Milton.
2. To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
Opportunities to approve . . . worth. Emerson.
He had approved himself a great warrior. Macaulay.
'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true. Byron.
His account . . . approves him a man of thought. Parkman.
3. To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the
decision of a court-martial.
4. To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well
of; as, we approve the measured of the administration.
5. To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God. Rog
Note: This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think
favorably (of), is often followed by of.
They had not approved of the deposition of James. Macaulay.
They approved of the political institutions. W. Black.
Ap*prove", v. t. Etym: [OF. aprouer; (L. ad) + a form apparently
derived fr. the pro, prod, in L. prodest it is useful or profitable,
properly the preposition pro for. Cf. Improve.] (Eng. Law)
Definition: To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; said esp. of
waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition