approval
UK: əˈpruːvəl | US: əˈpruːvəl
n. the act of agreeing to or accepting something as satisfactory
n. official permission or consent
n. a positive opinion or judgment
The word "approval" originates from the Old French "aprover," meaning "to approve," which itself derives from the Latin "approbare" (ad- "to" + probare "to test or prove"). The prefix "ap-" (variant of "ad-") signifies direction ("toward"), while "prov" relates to testing or proving validity. The suffix "-al" nominalizes the action, turning it into "the act of approving." Over time, the meaning shifted from literal testing to broader acceptance or endorsement.
The committee gave their approval for the new project.
She nodded in approval when she saw the final design.
The policy requires official approval before implementation.
His work met with widespread approval from critics.
Parents expressed approval of the school’s safety measures.