Expressing agreement, satisfaction, or official permission for something.
From Latin 'approbare' (to agree with), formed from 'ad-' (to) and 'probare' (to assent/prove). Medieval usage expanded to mean official authorization.
An 'approving nod' and 'approving a loan' use the same word but show how approval ranges from emotional support to bureaucratic power—the same root word serves both intimacy and institutions.
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