Webster's 1828 Dictionary
APPROVEMENT
n. 1. Approbation; liking.
2. In law, when a person indicated for felony or treason, and arraigned, confesses the fact before plea pleaded, and appeals or accuses his accomplices of the same crime, to obtain his pardon, this confession and accusation are called approvement, and the person an approver.
3. Improvement of common lands, by inclosing and converting them to the uses of husbandry.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
APPROVEMENT
APPROVEMENT Ap *prove "ment, n. [Obs. ]
1. Approbation. I did nothing without your approvement. Hayward.
2. (Eng. Law )
Defn: 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.
APPROVEMENT
Ap *prove "ment, n. (Old Eng. Law )
Defn: Improvement of common lands, by inclosing and converting them to the uses of husbandry for the advantage of the lord of the manor. Blackstone.