prob-, proba-, probat-, prov- +

Desire persuades me one way, reason another. I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse.

From Publius Ovidius Naso (43 B.C. - c. A.D. 17).

To approve officially.

1. An expression of warm approval; praise; commendation.
2. Official approval or sanction.
3. Obsolete: conclusive proof.

Approving; expressing approbation.

The quality of being approbative; that is, expressing or manifesting praise or approval.

1. Capable of being approved.
2. Worthy of being approved; commendable.

1. The act of approving; approbation.
2. Formal permission or sanction.
3. On approval, without obligation to buy unless satisfactory to the customer upon trial or examination and, otherwise, returnable: "They ship merchandise on approval."

1. To speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge favorably: "They had to approve the policies of the administration."
2. To consent or agree to.
3. To confirm or sanction formally; to ratify: "The Senate finally approved the bill."
4. To speak or consider favorably; to demonstrate; to show.
5. To make good; to attest.
6. To convict.

1. Someone who approves.
2. Old English Law: An accomplice to a felony who confessed his or her guilt and gave evidence against his or her confederates.

In an approving manner.

1. An instrument used in cryosurgery to apply extreme cold to a selected area.
2. A surgical instrument for conducting intense cold to small areas of body tissues in order to destroy those areas.

1. Moral disapproval; condemnation.
2. An expression of strong disapproval.
3. Pronouncing as wrong or morally culpable.

1. The act of disapproving or condemning; censuring.
2. The expression of disapproval.
3. A feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing.
4. An inclination to withhold approval from some person or group.
5. A feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing.

1. To think that something is wrong or reprehensible; to censure or to condemn in opinion.
2. To withhold approval from; to decline, to sanction: "His father disapproved of his behavior."
3. To have an unfavorable opinion: "She disapproves of drinking alcohol to such an excess."
4. To refuse to approve; to reject.

Showing disapproval.