approve2 (aprov)

t.; pret. and pp. ap proved, ppr. approving. [The form approve (NL. appro bare, approvare ), confused with ap provel, is a mod. error, due to a misunderstanding of the earlier forms; prop. approw, ML. appro are, appruare, and later appruvare, approvare, as above), profit, benefit, improve, ME. prow ), benefit, advantage, profit: see prowl and prowe . By a change of prefix, approve has become improve, q. v. Cf. appair, impair.] In law, to turn to one's own profit; augment the value or profits of, as of waste land, by inclosing and cultivating; improve. As long ago as the thirteenth century the statute of Merton had authorized the lords of manors to approve, that is, inclose for their own profit, as much of the waste F. Pollock , Land Laws, p. 173. commoners. The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: Dictionary IMG:content-1014.png:[blocks in formation] To fancy your approvements , but my own. Ford, Lover's Melancholy, i. 3. 2. In law, the act of becoming an approver or informer; the act of a prisoner who confe es, and accuses his accomplices; the act of turning king's or state's evidence.