approbate

IPA/ˈæp.rə.beɪt/
IPA/ˈæp.rə.beɪt/

approbate — verb

  • approbatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • approbates3rd person singular
  • approbating-ing form
  • approbatedpast simple

1. to give something your official agreement, usually through a court, government b

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to give something your official agreement, usually through a court, government body, or other authority that has the power to do so.

例句

The city council approbated the new bridge design after months of public debate.

approbate + [plan/design] for formal approval by an authority

Parliament finally approbated the treaty, making the trade deal legally binding.

同義詞
  • sanction

    also formal; stresses granting authority or official permission

  • ratify

    narrower — confirming a treaty or amendment by a formal vote

  • endorse

    public backing, not necessarily legal power

反義詞
  • veto

    to formally block rather than approve

  • reject

    to refuse approval outright

文法句型

approbate + object (a document, plan, or agreement)

用法筆記

Subject is almost always an official body — a court, council, board, or church authority — rather than a private individual giving casual approval.

常見錯誤

I really approbate your idea.
I really approve of your idea.
💡'approbate' is formal and legal; everyday approval takes 'approve (of)'.

2. to claim the favourable parts of a will, contract, or other document while refus

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to claim the favourable parts of a will, contract, or other document while refusing to be bound by its less convenient terms.

例句

You cannot approbate the will by taking the house and then reject its debts.

approbate X then reject Y: the selective-acceptance contrast

The heir tried to approbate the contract, keeping the land but ignoring the loan.

同義詞
  • cherry-pick

    informal; same idea of keeping the good parts, no legal weight

反義詞
  • reprobate

    the fixed legal counterpart — to reject the parts you do not approbate

文法句型

approbate + object (a will, deed, or contract)

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed pairing 'approbate and reprobate', the rule against accepting a document's benefits while dodging its burdens. Distinguish from sense 1, where the whole thing is approved.

常見錯誤

The board approbated the report it liked.
The board could not approbate and reprobate the report.
💡to mean cherry-picking parts, pair it with 'reprobate'; used alone it reads as full approval.