Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Approve, Appruve, v. Also: approw, app-, aprowe; approfe, -ffe, aprof; appruwe, appruf(e, -uf, apprwffe, appruif. [ME. aprove (14th c.), approve, OF. aprover, L. approbāre. Cf. Appreve v.]

1. tr. To confirm (something); to sanction, commend.a1400 Leg. S. xiii.² 20 (Petyre gert it in al placis aprowit be); xl. 125 (wele approwand his gud wil). 1456 Hay I. 131/24 (that opynioun approvis all lawis); 265/4 (his witnes is approvit be the grete Iuge). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1105 (approuand that for richt religioun). 1558-66 Knox II. 182.

b. To approve or sanction formally. Frequently coupled with ratify and conferm.(a) 1439 Edinb. Chart. 64.
We approfe, ratifiis, and confermis for euermare … alde charteris 1466 Reg. Great S. 215/2.
Quharfor … we … approffis and consentis that [etc.] 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 234/2.
Renunciand all richt [etc.], and approvand his auld lettres and evidentis 1550 Rep. Sir Arch. Grant Mun. 239.
Quhilkis subscripcionis we be thir presenttis ratyfyis and approivis 1558-66 Knox II. 93.
The Confessioun of Faith … be the Estaitis … ratifeit and approvit [Acts II. 526 apprevit] 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. 173.
The counsell … ratifie, homologat, and approve the saids former acts(b) c1420 Wynt. v. 1514.
We appruwe that solempnyte Ilke yhere to be done ay 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 108.
[To] ratify and apprwffe the resygnacioun … of the tak of the said landis 1477 Edinb. Chart. 141.
The quhilk statutis … we ratify and appruvis be thir our lettres 1622-6 Bisset I. 93/14.
We appruif the samin be oure apostolict auctoritie

2. To prove, demonstrate. 1456 Hay I. 26/2.
Tharfore may we se be this, that the exposicioun of the visioun was suthfastly approvit 1461 Peebles B. Rec. 142.
The curt … awardyt at that forsaid land was in the Rudis hand for faut of the anuelis payin, as is befor aproffyt 1485 Acta Conc. *111/2.
[To] summond … all the witnes contenit in the charter … to apprufe and verify the samyn 1562 Peebles B. Rec. 288.
The said Gilbert approvit in the jugement sait … that the said Johne bakbitit him

3. intr. To prove oneself; to behave.15.. Clar. iii. 765 (how that ȝe aprovit hes so weill).