approbate-reprobate
/ˈæprəbeɪt ˈreprəbeɪt/
verb phrase
Origin
Latin
approbare et reprobare — to approve and to reject
Overview
Meaning Now
- To accept and reject simultaneously; to approbate and reprobate in the same transaction.
- A legal doctrine preventing a party from asserting rights that are inconsistent with a position previously taken by that party.
Literal older meaning
To approve and to disapprove
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
approbare et reprobare
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The maxim 'no one can approbate and reprobate' originates from civil law, famously adopted in Scots law and later influential in English and Commonwealth equity courts. It essentially serves as a rule against contradiction, similar to the principle of estoppel.
Evolution
- Latin
approbare et reprobare
“to approve and to reject”
Classic legal phraseology in canon and civil law.
- Middle English
approbate and reprobate
“accepting certain parts of a legal document while rejecting others”
Used within the English judicial system to refer to the doctrine of election.
- Modern English
approbate-reprobate
“an inconsistent stance regarding a legal claim”
Hyphenated as a consolidated doctrine or maxim.
Connections
Word parts
approbate
root
approve
reprobate
root
disapprove
Related across languages
Scots
approbate and reprobate
the doctrine of election
Explore next
Related to approbate-reprobate
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.