Approvers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People who give their assent or support to a specific proposal or action
2. Individuals who consent to or sanction decisions made by others
3. Persons who formally accept or endorse a plan, proposal, or action

Etymology: The plural "approvers" simply pluralises "approver," which means someone who approves or gives consent. Its history runs through a Latin verb built on a directional prefix and a root meaning to test or prove. Latin "approbare" meant to demonstrate or confirm something as good, from "ad" (toward) plus "probare" (to test, prove). It passed into Old French as "aprover," and Middle English borrowed that form as "aproven," which in turn became the English verb "approve." The agent ending "-er" is English, added to the verb "approve" to name a person who does the approving. So the word is a plain verb-plus-suffix formation, and its sense of consent comes from the older Latin idea of putting something to the test and finding it sound.

Synonyms: endorsers, supporters, backers

Antonyms: opposers, critics, detractors