Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AP-PROV'ER, a.

1. One who approves. Formerly one who proves or makes trial.
2. In law, one who confesses a crime and accuses another. [See Approvement.] Also, formerly, one who had the letting of the king's domains, in small manors. In Stat. 1 Edw. Ill. c. 8, sherifs are called approvers. A bailif or steward of a manor. – Encyc.