approve (1 and 3 are freq.; the ordinary mod. sense occurs)
1.
to prove, demonstrate to be true,
corroborate, confirm
Mer.V. III. ii. 79
“approve it with a
text,”
All'sW. III. vii. 13
“which well approves
You're great in fortune,”
H8 II. iii. 74, Mac. I. vi. 4,
Ham. I. i. 29
“He may approve our
eyes,”
Cym. V. v. 246.
2.
to convict
Ado IV. i. 44
“an approved
wanton,”
Oth. II. iii. 213
“approv'd in this
offence.”
3.
to put to the proof,
test, try (esp. in pa. pple.) Shr. I. i. 7,
R2 II. iii. 44
“more approved
service,”
1H4 I. i. 54
“valiant and approved
Scot,”
Oth. I. iii. 77.
4.
to commend Ham. V. ii. 142 (‘would not be much to my credit’), Per. II. i. 56.
