Approve

1.

To accept as good or sufficient for the purpose intended. Opposed, disapprove. See Approbare. Public sales are made on "approved, indorsed notes" when the purchaser gives his promissory note for the amount of a purchase. Indorsed by another and approved by the seller. The approval of the note ratifies the sale. See Sale, On approval; Ratification.

2.

To deem of sufficient security: as, to approve a bond. "Approved" indorsed on a bond by the judge of a court does not necessarily import more than that the bond is deemed a sufficient security to be accepted. It does not include a direction that the bond is to stand in lieu of another bond and that the other is discharged.

3.

To affirm as lawful and proper; to give judicial sanction to: as, to approve the report of an auditor, a master, or trustee.

See Confirmation, 3. 4.

To concur in the propriety or expediency, the legality or constitutionality of; to give executive sanction to: as, to approve an ordinance proposed by the councils of a city, to approve an act of an Assembly or of Congress.

See Act, 3; Pass, 3; Veto. 5.

To confess a felony or treason and accuse another as accomplice in order to obtain a pardon.

Approvement

The confession made in such case, and the act of making it.

Approver.

He who makes such a confession. The accused is the "appellee." When a person indicted for treason or felony was arraigned he might confess the charge before plea pleaded and appeal or accuse some other as his accomplice, in order to obtain a pardon. This, allowed in capital cases only, was equivalent to an indictment, as the appellee was required to answer the charge. If proven guilty the judgment was against the appellee; and the approver was entitled to a pardon ex debito justitiae; but if the appellee was acquitted the judgment was that the approver be condemned.

See Accomplice.