ˈaprəˌbāt transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English approbaten, from Latin approbatus, past participle of approbare — more at approve (sanction)
1. : to express approval of formally or legally : sanction officially
a certificate approbating the hotel
a. : to certify (a person) as officially licensed to preach
an approbated minister
b. Scots law : to accept as legal or valid (as part of a deed) — used especially in the phrase approbate and reprobate
a deed cannot be both approbated and reprobated
2. : to have a favorable opinion of : approve of
everyone approbates him