v. t. To bend forward. [ R. ] Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Approved p. pr. & vb. n. Approving. ] [ OE. aproven, appreven, to prove, OF. aprover, F. approuver, to approve, fr. L. approbare; ad + probare to esteem as good, approve, prove. See Prove, and cf. Approbate. ] 1. To show to be real or true; to prove. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Wouldst thou approve thy constancy? Approve
First thy obedience. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically. [ 1913 Webster ]

Opportunities to approve . . . worth. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had approved himself a great warrior. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

His account . . . approves him a man of thought. Parkman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of; as, we approve the measured of the administration. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of), is often followed by of. [ 1913 Webster ]

They had not approved of the deposition of James. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

They approved of the political institutions. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. aprouer; a (L. ad) + a form apparently derived fr. the pro, prod, in L. prodest it is useful or profitable, properly the preposition pro for. Cf. Improve. ] (Eng. Law) To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; -- said esp. of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to secure approbation; in an approved manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] 1. Approbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

I did nothing without your approvement. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Law) a confession of guilt by a prisoner charged with treason or felony, together with an accusation of his accomplish and a giving evidence against them in order to obtain his own pardon. The term is no longer in use; it corresponded to what is now known as turning king's (or queen's) evidence in England, and state's evidence in the United States. Burrill. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Old Eng. Law) Improvement of common lands, by inclosing and converting them to the uses of husbandry for the advantage of the lord of the manor. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who approves. Formerly, one who made proof or trial. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An informer; an accuser. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eng. Law) One who confesses a crime and accuses another. See 1st Approvement, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Approve, v. t. ] (Eng. Law) A bailiff or steward; an agent. [ Obs. ] Jacobs. [ 1913 Webster ]

A controversy (1886 -- 93) between Great Britain and the United States as to the right of Canadians not licensed by the United States to carry on seal fishing in the Bering Sea, over which the United States claimed jurisdiction as a mare clausum. A court of arbitration, meeting in Paris in 1893, decided against the claim of the United States, but established regulations for the preservation of the fur seal. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. 1. Turning or looking opposite ways. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The temple of Janus, with his two controversal faces. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Controversial. [ Obs. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Controversial. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. controverse. ] Controversy. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. controversari, fr. controversus turned against, disputed. ] To dispute; to controvert. [ Obs. ] “Controversed causes.” Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A disputant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. LL. controversialis. ] Relating to, or consisting of, controversy; disputatious; polemical; as, controversial divinity.

[ 1913 Webster ]

Whole libraries of controversial books. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who carries on a controversy; a disputant. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ Johnson ] was both intellectually and morally of the stuff of which controversialists are made. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a controversial manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of controverting; controversy. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A controverser. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Controversies /plu>. [ L. controversia, fr. controversus turned against, disputed; contro- = contra + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See Verse. ] 1. Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

This left no room for controversy about the title. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Quarrel; strife; cause of variance; difference. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. Jer. xxv. 31. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A suit in law or equity; a question of right. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment. 2 Sam. xv. 2.

Syn. -- Dispute; debate; disputation; disagreement; altercation; contention; wrangle; strife; quarrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Controverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Controverting. ] [ See Controversy. ] To make matter of controversy; to dispute or oppose by reasoning; to contend against in words or writings; to contest; to debate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some controverted points had decided according to the sense of the best jurists. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who controverts; a controversial writer; a controversialist. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some controverters in divinity are like swaggerers in a tavern. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being controverted; disputable; admitting of question. -- Con`tro*ver"ti*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One skilled in or given to controversy; a controversialist. [ 1913 Webster ]

How unfriendly is the controvertist to the discernment of the critic! Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counterproved p. pr. & vb. n. Counterproving. ] To take a counter proof of, or a copy in reverse, by taking an impression directly from the face of an original. See Counter proof, under Counter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disapproved p. pr. & vb. n. Disapproving. ] [ Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. déapprouver. Cf. Disapprobation. ] 1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to sanction; as, the sentence of the court-martial was disapproved by the commander in chief. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who disapproves. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [ R. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow worse; to deteriorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of the earth; specific features which are worse than former features; disimprovements in the new Windows operating system. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disproved p. pr. & vb. n. Disproving. ] [ Pref. dis- + prove: cf. OF. desprover. ] 1. To prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; to refute. [ 1913 Webster ]

That false supposition I advanced in order to disprove it. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disallow; to disapprove of. [ Obs. ] Stirling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who disproves or confutes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Droved p. pr. & vb. n. Droving ] [ Cf. Drove, n., and Drover. ] 1. To drive, as cattle or sheep, esp. on long journeys; to follow the occupation of a drover.

He's droving now with Conroy's sheep along the Castlereagh. Paterson. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To finish, as stone, with a drove or drove chisel. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

imp. of Drive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. drāf, fr. drīfan to drive. See Drive. ] 1. A collection of cattle driven, or cattle collected for driving; a number of animals, as oxen, sheep, or swine, driven in a body. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any collection of irrational animals, moving or driving forward; as, a finny drove. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A crowd of people in motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where droves, as at a city gate, may pass. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A road for driving cattle; a driftway. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Agric.) A narrow drain or channel used in the irrigation of land. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Masonry) (a) A broad chisel used to bring stone to a nearly smooth surface; -- called also drove chisel. (b) The grooved surface of stone finished by the drove chisel; -- called also drove work. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Drive. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who drives cattle or sheep to market; one who makes it his business to purchase cattle, and drive them to market. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why, that's spoken like an honest drover; so they sell bullocks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A boat driven by the tide. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Extrorse. ] 1. The condition of being turned wrong side out; as, extroversion of the bladder. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Psychol.) the trait of being interested primarily in things in one's external environement, rather than one's own thoughts and feelings. [ PJC ]

3. (Psychol.) the act of directing one's interests primarily toward things in one's external environement, rather than one's own thoughts and feelings. [ PJC ]

1. (Psychol.) same as extroverted. [ PJC ]

n. (Psychol.) A person who is extroverted; a person who is marked by an interest in others or concerned primarily with external reality. Contrasted with introvert. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. 1. (Psychol.) directed outward; marked by an interest in other people or concerned primarily with external reality.
Syn. -- extrovert, extravert, extraverted, extravertive, extroversive, extraversive. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ AS. graf, fr. grafan to dig. The original sense seems to have been a lane cut through trees. See Grave, v., and cf. Groove. ] A smaller group of trees than a forest, and without underwood, planted, or growing naturally as if arranged by art; a wood of small extent. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Hebrew word Asherah, rendered grove in the Authorized Version of the Bible, is left untranslated in the Revised Version. Almost all modern interpreters agree that by Asherah an idol or image of some kind is intended. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Groveled r Grovelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Groveling or Grovelling. ] [ From OE. grovelinge, grufelinge, adv., on the face, prone, which was misunderstood as a p. pr.; cf. OE. gruf, groff, in the same sense; of Scand. origin, cf. Icel. grūfa, in ā grūfu on the face, prone, grūfa to grovel. ] 1. To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to lie prone, or move uneasily with the body prostrate on the earth; to lie flat on one's belly, expressive of abjectness; to crawl. [ 1913 Webster ]

To creep and grovel on the ground. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tend toward, or delight in, what is sensual or base; to be low, abject, or mean. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who grovels; an abject wretch. [ Written also groveller. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

, a. Lying prone; low; debased; submissive in a self-abasing manner. “A groveling creature.” Cowper.
Syn. -- cringing, wormlike, wormy. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ Pref. im- not + prove: cf. L. improbare, F. improuver. ] 1. To disprove or make void; to refute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Improved p. pr. & vb. n. Improving. ] [ Pref. in- in + prove, in approve. See Approve, Prove. ] 1. To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those moments were diligently improved. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; -- said with reference to what is bad. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We all have, I fear, . . . not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors. Bp. Porteus.

Syn. -- To better; meliorate; ameliorate; advance; heighten; mend; correct; rectify; amend; reform. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health. [ 1913 Webster ]

We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse. “Domitian improved in cruelty.” Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves. [ 1913 Webster ]

To improve on or
To improve upon, to make useful additions or amendments to, or changes in; to bring nearer to perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. advanced to a more desirable or valuable or excellent state. Opposite of unimproved. [ Narrower terms: built, reinforced; cleared, tilled ; developed; grade ; graded, graveled ] Also See: restored. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. changed for the better; as, her improved behavior.
Syn. -- amended. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act of improving; advancement or growth; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of making profitable use or applicaton of anything, or the state of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse. “A good improvement of his reason.” S. Clarke. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being improved; betterment; advance; also, that which is improved; as, the new edition is an improvement on the old. [ 1913 Webster ]

The parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, are improvements on the Greek poet. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Increase; growth; progress; advance. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several improvements and decays. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those vices which more particularly receive improvement by prosperity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. pl. Valuable additions or betterments, as buildings, clearings, drains, fences, etc., on land or premises; as, to convey the land together with all improvements. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Patent Laws) A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]